“Carbon Copies” initiative to give smaller business access to advice from Sky’s in-house environment team Sky, one of the largest UK firms to declare
itself carbon neutral and a high-profile advocate of green business practices, has launched a new ” mentoring” initiative that will see the broadcasting giant offer advice to smaller firms on how they can reduce their carbon footprint. Unveiled at the Prince’s May Day event last week, the new initiative will see the “Carbon Copies” service offered to Business in The Community’s network of 1,200 small and medium-sized businesses. Jeremy Darroch, chief executive of Sky, said that the mentoring scheme would be based on the company’s existing work with broadcasting production companies, which has seen its in-house environment team offer partners advice on how to measure and reduce carbon emissions. “We know that environmental mentoring works: our initiative to help production companies’ green programming has given us a successful model to duplicate,” he said. “There is real potential for us to make a real difference by working together in a way that is good for business and the environment.” The company said that Harlequins rugby club has become the first organisation to sign up to the scheme and will now embark on a 12-month project alongside Sky’s charity partner Global Action Plan to reduce its carbon footprint. Sky said it had already undertaken an audit of Harlequins operations, which found that its annual carbon footprint stands at 866 tonnes, and is now aiming to develop an emission reduction strategy for the club.
The strategy is expected to focus on improving recycling facilities at the club, rolling out energy efficient lighting, making greater use of rainwater for pitch irrigation, and installing more efficient generators at the club’s ground.