Net Zero is a popular term nowadays. It refers to the balance between the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere and the amount removed from it.

The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report sets 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels as the limit for global warming, warning that if we fail to contain it within this limit, the effects on the planet could be irreversible.

The UK is leading the way towards Net Zero emissions and has launched a clear program that aims to achieve this target by 2050. The target is ambitious and is not going to be cheap to achieve. It’s estimated that the annual cost of the net to zero programs will cost around 0.6% of the GDP.

 

The economic benefit of Net Zero

The UK was the first major economy to formalise a Net Zero program; the Government is confident that this challenge will provide unprecedented economic opportunities with millions of jobs soon to be available in the country.

Further, the investment in the acceleration of renewable energy production ensures that businesses and consumers will be protected from energy price spikes caused by volatile international fossil fuel markets, reducing the average energy bill (which is good news with the current energy prices situation).

 

R&D at the forefront for Net Zero

The Government aim to harness R&D to reach the UK’s sustainability targets, and recently announced the largest R&D budget ever, with 39.8 billion available for 2022-2025 to drive innovation forward; an unprecedented opportunity for businesses to benefit from the incentive.

The are several plans for the decarbonisation of different sectors such as transportation, aviation, and agriculture. This opens countless opportunities for businesses working on projects such as the development of hydrogen solutions, sustainable aviation fuels or novel solutions to boost productivity and sustainability for farmers and growers (. Further, the steel industry shows high potential for R&D with the development of hydrogen-based steelmaking and the implementation of systems to retain carbon as a prime example of that.

The opportunities for businesses to benefit from the incentive go far beyond the very techy and scientific projects.

This includes:

  • The optimisation of manufacturing processes aiming to reduce waste
  • The iteration of existing products aiming to improve their durability
  • The improvement of recyclability attributes in products

 

Work with Apogee and be part of the solution

The shift toward Net Zero also involves changing how we make decisions in our day-to-day life. Working with a sustainable supplier has a positive impact on the environment and helps your business achieve its sustainability goals.

Apogee is the sustainable choice for your R&D. With our commitment to sustainability, we make sure that every application we compile contributes towards the protection of our planet. By working with us, 100 trees will be planted (200 for two-year retrospective applications) in your name and part of our profit will be donated towards the protection of rainforests.

 

SOURCES:

HM Government, (2021). Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener October 2021. Available at: net-zero-strategy-beis.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk).

Energy Saving Trust, (2021). What is net zero and how can we get there? Available at: What is net zero and how can we get there? – Energy Saving Trust