Net Zero for small businesses – why it matters & how to take action

Climate action can often feel like the domain of big businesses with big budgets and a team of marketing specialists looking for a new angle to sell their product. Net zero targets, carbon neutrality pledges, and science-based commitments are too often presented as complex, costly undertakings that small businesses simply don’t have the time or resources to pursue.

But the truth is, climate action and carbon reduction isn’t just for multinationals. It’s a call to action for everyone — and small businesses have a unique opportunity to and make meaningful change that can take a large business years to implement.

Why carbon reduction matters for small businesses

Your business might not have a large vehicle fleet or have a massive supply chain, but every tonne of carbon matters. Collectively, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) make up over 90% of businesses worldwide and are responsible for a significant share of emissions. That means the decisions made in independent cafes, creative agencies, sales & distribution firms, and startups add up.

Customers, employees, and suppliers are paying attention, people want to support brands that take climate action seriously and are taking real steps to reduce their footprint. Setting a carbon reduction plans sends a clear signal: we’re not waiting for someone else to act, we’re part of the solution.

From overwhelm to action

For many founders, “net zero” can feel like a mountain of acronyms and technical jargon: Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3, offsets, removals… it’s easy to delay action until you have the “perfect” plan or throw out the whole thing entirely.

But the path to net zero doesn’t have to start with perfection. It starts with understanding, measuring, and taking small, practical steps:

• Measure what matters. Start with a simple carbon footprint assessment. Tools and consultants can help you identify the key sources of your emissions — from energy use to travel to supply chain.
• Engage your team. 
• Reduce first. Look for the easy wins: renewable energy, energy-efficient equipment, reducing business travel, switching suppliers, or even rethinking packaging.

Set a target and share it. A public commitment, even if modest, builds accountability and transparency. Acknowledging your own journey as, and the steps you will take to achieve success as transparently as possible gives your commitment weight and builds trust with your staff, customers and suppliers.

Making net zero part of your culture

Net zero isn’t just a technical challenge, it’s a cultural one. The most effective plans engage your team, inspire your clients, and create momentum. Celebrate small wins. Share progress openly. Involve staff in brainstorming new ideas, from rethinking your supply chain to running climate-positive events.

By making climate action visible and participatory, you build a brand that people want to work with and for.

We can get you started

At Natural Distinction, we help small businesses cut through the jargon and turn climate action into tangible, inspiring goals. We guide clients to:

• Map their footprint and identify priority actions.
• Create practical initiatives that fit their budget and capacity.
• Embed sustainability into their culture to drive continuous improvements.
• Communicate their journey in a way that feels authentic, not performative.

We believe every business, no matter how small, can contribute to a better future. Not just by doing less harm, but by actively doing more good.

Start where you are

You don’t need a 50-page sustainability strategy to get started. Take one measurement. Make one change. Share one commitment.

Carbon reduction isn’t a distant goal it’s a series of small, deliberate steps you can begin today.

If you’re not sure where to begin – that’s where we come in.

Let’s turn ambition into action and make sustainability a natural part of doing good business.

“Nobody can do everything. But everybody can do something”
Gil Scott-Heron