Net Zero is not a box-ticking exercise. It’s not about vague pledges, PR spin, or buying your way out of a problem. And it’s certainly not something that sits on the side of the day job.
At TEST, we work with organisations across sectors and sizes, from manufacturers and logistics operators to property developers and financial services. And the misconception we still see far too often? That Net Zero is just a carbon offsetting exercise. A case of calculating emissions, buying credits, and moving on.
But that’s not Net Zero. That’s delay.
As our Managing Director, John Swallow, puts it:
“Net Zero is about smarter, more efficient operations. It’s about understanding your data, owning your impact, and driving practical change, not just writing an annual sustainability statement to keep investors happy.”
And he’s right. Because for businesses, Net Zero is becoming less of an option and more of an operational and financial imperative.
Offsets are the last resort, not the strategy
Let’s be clear: offsets have a role to play. But they are the final step of a credible Net Zero plan, not the first.
The hierarchy is simple:
- Measure your emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3 if you can).
- Reduce what you reasonably can through internal changes.
- Remove or offset only what’s left and be transparent about it.
If your strategy begins and ends with offsets, it’s neither strategic nor credible. Regulators, investors, customers, and procurement teams are all waking up to this.
Net Zero is operational, not just environmental
Real progress on Net Zero means getting under the bonnet of your operations.
- What are your energy systems doing on a Monday morning vs Saturday night?
- Where is your supply chain exposing you to risk?
- Which parts of your business are carbon intensive and why?
This isn’t just “green stuff.” It’s strategic business insight. Carbon is often a proxy for inefficiency. So, when you reduce carbon, you often reduce cost, improve resilience, and gain a competitive edge.
That’s why we say carbon reduction is operational improvement in disguise.
You can’t manage what you don’t measure
Another misconception: Net Zero means setting a target and revisiting it every few years.
Wrong.
Net Zero is a live process. And just like any other part of your business, sales, finance, logistics, it should be data-led. That means:
- Real-time or regular emissions monitoring
- Internal dashboards with clear metrics
- Visibility across scopes and sites
- Accountability from the top down
Our clients are increasingly treating carbon the same way they treat cost, tracked, managed, and embedded into decision-making. That’s how you move from vague ambition to measurable action.
Your plan should fit your business, not someone else’s template
There’s no single route to Net Zero. What works for a manufacturer won’t work for a creative agency. What matters is that the plan fits your operations, your structure, your pace, and your ambition.
That’s where we often come in. Not to tell you to change everything overnight, but to give you a structured, evidence-based plan that evolves with your business.
The key is not perfection. The key is clarity and credibility.
Final word from John:
“Net Zero isn’t something you ‘do.’ It’s something you build into the way your business runs. You don’t need to be perfect today, but you do need to be honest, informed, and willing to act. That’s where the real impact starts.”
So, let’s challenge the assumptions. Let’s move away from tokenism and start building smarter, leaner, low-carbon organisations that are fit for the future.
Because Net Zero isn’t about looking good. It’s about running better.
Need help turning Net Zero into real-world action? Find out how TEST Consulting can support your journey from strategy to implementation.
0113 467 7650 | enquiries@test-consulting.co.uk
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