At Reset Connect London 2026, TEST Consulting brought together more than 30 professionals from across the sustainability, energy, property and business sectors for our VIP roundtable, Decarbonisation That Delivers.
Hosted in partnership with Carbon Futures and Simmtronic, the session explored one simple but important question:
How do organisations move beyond ambitious Net Zero commitments and deliver measurable results?
The discussion quickly highlighted that successful decarbonisation is about far more than technology.
The organisations making the greatest progress are those aligning people, governance, commercial priorities and reliable data to drive long-term change.
Decarbonisation Must Deliver Business Value
One of the strongest themes throughout the discussion was that carbon reduction initiatives need to make commercial sense.
While environmental benefits remain important, delegates agreed that projects are far more likely to receive investment when they demonstrate clear business outcomes, including:
- Reduced operating costs
- Improved energy efficiency
- Greater organisational resilience
- Reduced business risk
- Increased operational performance
Rather than viewing decarbonisation as a compliance exercise, participants encouraged organisations to position it as a business improvement programme.
The Language We Use Matters
An engaging conversation focused on how the industry communicates sustainability.
Several delegates questioned whether terms such as retrofit unintentionally create barriers for decision-makers.
Would words such as upgrade, modernisation or business improvement better communicate the opportunities available?
The consensus was that making sustainability more accessible starts with making it easier to understand.
Leadership Creates Momentum
Technology alone does not deliver decarbonisation.
Participants repeatedly highlighted that successful programmes require visible executive support and clear accountability across the organisation.
Without ownership, even well-designed strategies can struggle to gain traction.
Organisations achieving the greatest success typically embed sustainability into wider business planning rather than treating it as a standalone initiative.
Every Organisation Needs a Champion
Another key takeaway was the importance of internal champions.
These individuals help bridge the gap between strategy and delivery by maintaining momentum, engaging stakeholders and ensuring projects continue moving forward.
Finding and empowering these champions was seen as one of the most valuable investments organisations can make.
Data Enables Better Decisions
Reliable data was identified as the foundation of effective decarbonisation.
Whether developing investment cases, monitoring progress or identifying opportunities for improvement, trusted insights enable organisations to make informed decisions with confidence.
Delegates agreed that organisations need more than reporting—they need meaningful analysis that supports action.
The Bigger Picture
Across every discussion, several common themes emerged:
- Decarbonisation should be treated as business transformation rather than compliance.
- Financial value remains one of the strongest drivers of investment.
- Governance and accountability underpin long-term success.
- Behavioural and organisational challenges are often greater than technical ones.
- High-quality data is essential for measuring progress and prioritising action.
TEST would like to thank everyone who attended and contributed to such an open and insightful discussion.
Special thanks to:
- Loreana Padron – Carbon Futures
- Jess Costanzo – Simmtronic
- Ste Garlick – BDP
- Aneysha Minocha – Quantaco
Your experience and perspectives helped make the session a real success.
Looking Ahead
The discussions at Reset Connect reinforced something we see every day while working with organisations across the UK.
Successful decarbonisation isn’t achieved through ambitious targets alone.
It happens when organisations align people, governance, data and investment around practical, measurable action that delivers both environmental and commercial value.
At TEST, that’s exactly what we help organisations achieve.
Whether through energy management, carbon reduction strategies, solar optimisation, compliance or performance monitoring, our focus is always the same: helping businesses make informed, evidence-based decisions that reduce costs, lower carbon emissions and create lasting value.
If your organisation is looking to turn sustainability ambitions into measurable results, we’d love to start the conversation.
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