Climate action guide for businesses
Taking climate action can reduce running costs, attract customers, improve staff wellbeing and protect the local environment.
The Council is working alongside businesses to make these changes easier and more rewarding.
What the Council is doing
The Council is supporting businesses through investment, partnerships and advice. This includes:
- rolling out electric vehicle charging points across the borough
- improving walking and cycling routes to support active travel for staff and customers
- offering annual Repair, Reuse, Recycle Grants for local projects
- advertising opportunities, networking, signposting and advice through our business newsletter
- working with partners such as ReLondon to reduce waste and improve recycling
- supporting cargo bike trials to help businesses switch to zero-emission deliveries
These actions make Lewisham a more sustainable and attractive place to live, work and visit.
Practical steps for businesses
Every business can take action, no matter its size or sector. Many changes can save money and increase resilience.
Energy and buildings
- switch to LED lighting and install motion sensors or timers to cut electricity use
- submit regular meter readings or install smart meters to track energy use accurately
- insulate roofs, walls and floors to reduce heating costs
- replace older boilers with efficient models or install heat pumps
- switch to a renewable energy tariff
Waste and resources
- reduce single-use plastics and encourage reusable options
- label bins clearly to improve recycling rates
- work with suppliers to reduce packaging and choose lower-impact products
- consider donating or reusing equipment rather than binning it
- sign up for business food waste collections
Transport and deliveries
- encourage staff to walk, cycle or use public transport where possible
- support car sharing for commuting
- switch company vehicles to electric models where feasible
- trial cargo bikes for deliveries to reduce costs and journey times
Staff and culture
- nominate an environmental champion to lead on sustainability
- offer information sessions or challenges to encourage staff action
- provide plant-based food options in canteens or at events
- create simple guides or checklists for staff to follow, such as switching off appliances and lights, and measuring waste
Funding and support
There are many schemes to help reduce your costs and emissions:
- Better Futures+ offers free support and workshops for small and medium businesses in London
- Big Clean Switch helps businesses find trusted renewable energy suppliers
- our Repair, Reuse, Recycle grants
- check Heart of The City for a free Climate Action Business Toolkit
For advice, email business@lewisham.gov.uk or climate@lewisham.gov.uk.
Working together
Businesses across Lewisham are already reducing waste, switching to renewable energy and trialling greener transport.
These actions cut costs, build stronger communities and help create a cleaner borough. By taking part, your business can make a meaningful contribution to Lewisham’s sustainable future.
Resources
If you're a Council supplier, you can request our Climate Implications Toolkit and Guidelines by emailing climate@lewisham.gov.uk.
Case study: Mont58
Mont58 is an independent, family run coffee roastery and cafe. They provide freshly ground coffee and snacks from their Corbett Library hut and Sydenham cafe.
They are on their way to being waste free, creating a respected, efficient business in the process.
The team provide easy coffee subscriptions to homes and other businesses. These are provided in recyclable packaging and reusable tubs.
Deliveries are made on bike by local young people paid a decent living wage. Mont58 have also introduced a returnable cup scheme for customers. This helps to minimise waste, saving both the business, and their regulars money on packaging.
Mont58 used the Repair, Reuse, Recycle grant to buy an ice machine and kitchen composter. For the summer months, this saves them buying and storing plastic bagged ice.
The kitchen composter takes all their food waste and turns it into neat compost powder. They combine this with their coffee grounds, to use on their own cafe gardens, and those nearby.