The ARA and Greener are collaborating to co-design a new digital solution, called Greener Business that aims to help resource-constrained small businesses define and reach their sustainability objectives faster.
This platform will provide an opportunity to showcase the positive steps businesses have taken to reduce emissions, then draw on a library of best practice interventions to develop a customised action plan and reward positive changes with consumer-facing trust marks.
ARA chief executive Paul Zahra said retail has a lot to contribute to Australia’s sustainability efforts and addressing environmental challenges is a top priority.
“With many small businesses in survival mode in recent years there are limited resources in the sustainability space,” he said.
“There is also an enormous war for talent within sustainability roles and it is very challenging for smaller retailers to secure this expertise. Our partnership with Greener will provide support and knowledge to help small businesses outline the initiatives they can take as they progress their sustainability journey.”
Greener co-founder Tom Ferrier said that organisations around the country want to get greener, especially the 96 per cent of businesses that are small-medium enterprises, but they don’t know how or can’t afford to hire a sustainability manager to help.
“This proprietary platform replaces the need of having to hire sustainability resources,” he said.
The partnership between the ARA and Greener in developing the Greener Business product is one of the initiatives highlighted by the ARA in its Climate Action Plan and will help Australian retail and hospitality businesses start to deliver on the ARA’s Net-zero Roadmap for the sector.
