Environmental Strategies

We’re proud to announce that Environmental Strategies Ltd is now a Certified B Corporation™

Anna Pearce — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:34:27 +0000

This is an important milestone for our business and one that reflects our commitment to operating responsibly, supporting our people, delivering value for our clients and continually improving the way we work.

For almost 30 years, Environmental Strategies Ltd has helped organisations navigate environmental, energy and sustainability challenges. Throughout that time, we’ve built our reputation on providing practical advice, trusted partnerships and a commitment to doing the right thing.

Achieving B Corp™ Certification recognises that these principles extend beyond the services we provide and are embedded in the way we operate as a business.

Helen Sprakes, Managing Director of Environmental Strategies Ltd, said:

Achieving B Corp™ Certification is a proud milestone for everyone at Environmental Strategies. Sustainability has always been at the heart of what we do for our clients, but becoming a B Corp™ demonstrates that we hold ourselves to the same high standards that we encourage others to achieve.Businesses today are expected to do more than simply minimise their environmental impact. They must also consider how they support their employees, contribute to their communities and operate with transparency and integrity. B Corp™ recognises that broader responsibility.

This isn’t the end of the journey, it’s another step forward. We’re committed to continually improving the way we operate and helping our clients do the same, creating lasting environmental and social value alongside commercial success.

What is B Corp™?

Certified B Corporations™ are businesses that meet B Lab’s standards of verified social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

Certification is awarded by the non-profit organisation B Lab following a comprehensive assessment of an organisation’s governance, treatment of employees, environmental performance, community engagement and customer stewardship.

Unlike many certifications that focus on a single area, B Corp™ looks at the overall impact a business has on the people and communities it works with, as well as the environment.

Why We Chose to Become a B Corp™

As consultants, we spend every day helping organisations improve the way they operate. Whether we’re supporting businesses with management systems,

sustainability strategies, energy management or carbon reduction, we encourage our clients to measure their performance, challenge themselves and demonstrate their commitment through recognised standards.

We believed it was important to hold ourselves to those same expectations and practice what we preach.

Pursuing B Corp Certification™ gave us the opportunity to independently assess how we operate as a business—from the way we govern the company and support our people, to how we work with our clients, engage with our communities and manage our environmental impact.

The process encouraged us to reflect on what we’re doing well, identify opportunities for improvement and embed even stronger practices across our business.

Achieving certification is something we’re incredibly proud of, but we see it as another step in our journey rather than the finish line.

What This Means for Our Clients

While becoming a Certified B Corporation™ doesn’t change the services we provide, it reinforces the standards our clients can expect from us.

It reflects our commitment to:

Operating with integrity, transparency and accountability.
Building trusted, long-term partnerships.
Supporting and investing in our people.
Continuously improving the way we work.
Delivering practical, high-quality advice that creates lasting value.

As our clients face increasing expectations around responsible business practices, we’re proud to demonstrate that we hold ourselves to the same high standards that we encourage in others.

Looking Ahead

B Corp Certification™ is more than a recognition of where we are today – it’s a commitment to continual improvement.

We’ll continue to review how we operate, measure our impact and look for opportunities to strengthen our business for the benefit of our people, our clients, our communities and the environment.

We’d like to thank our employees, clients, partners and suppliers who have supported us throughout this journey. Your trust, collaboration and encouragement have helped us achieve this important milestone.

We’re excited about what comes next and look forward to continuing to support organisations as they navigate their own business and sustainability challenges.

To find out more about how we met this standard, visit the B Corp™ website here.

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EU vs UK CBAM: What Businesses Need to Know

Anna Pearce — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:59:43 +0000

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is becoming an increasingly important consideration for businesses importing carbon-intensive goods into the UK and EU.

The EU’s definitive CBAM regime came into effect on 1 January 2026, while the UK’s own CBAM is due to follow from 1 January 2027. Although the two schemes share the same broad objective, there are some important differences in how they will operate.

For businesses trading across the UK and EU, understanding those differences could be essential for determining whether CBAM applies and what needs to be done to prepare.

What is CBAM?

CBAM is designed to tackle carbon leakage – where production moves to countries with less stringent climate policies to avoid the carbon costs faced by domestic producers.

Rather than reducing global emissions, this can simply shift them elsewhere.

CBAM addresses this by placing a carbon price on the embedded emissions associated with certain carbon-intensive imported goods. The intention is to create a more level playing field between imported products and goods manufactured domestically under an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

The UK and EU schemes aren’t identical

While the UK CBAM and EU CBAM follow similar principles, businesses shouldn’t assume that complying with one automatically means complying with the other.

There are differences in areas including:

the sectors and products covered;
the thresholds used to determine whether CBAM applies;
carbon pricing;
reporting frequency;
the treatment of indirect emissions; and
how CBAM liabilities are paid.

For example, the EU threshold is based on the weight of in-scope products, whereas the UK scheme will use a £50,000 value threshold over a 12-month period. The EU scheme also includes electricity within its applicable sectors, while the UK scheme does not.

These differences mean that a business could potentially fall within the scope of one regime but not the other.

What should businesses be doing now?

With the EU’s definitive regime already underway and the UK CBAM approaching in 2027, businesses that import potentially affected goods should start establishing whether their products fall within scope.

Commodity codes will be particularly important and should be checked against each scheme separately.

Businesses operating across both markets should also avoid assuming that emissions calculations prepared for one CBAM regime will automatically be acceptable for the other. Methodologies and default values will need to be considered separately.

Where actual embedded emissions data is used, verification requirements also need to be considered, including the requirement for appropriately accredited independent verification.

Download our free EU vs UK CBAM comparison

To make the differences easier to understand, we’ve produced a free two-page EU vs UK CBAM Comparison Overview.

It provides an at-a-glance comparison of the two schemes, including their effective dates, applicable sectors, thresholds, reporting requirements, treatment of emissions and payment mechanisms.

Download your free copy of our EU vs UK CBAM Comparison Overview below.

EU vs UK CBAM

Need help understanding your carbon reporting requirements?

Environmental Strategies Ltd supports businesses with carbon accounting, emissions data and wider environmental and sustainability requirements.

If you’re unsure how CBAM may affect your organisation, or need support understanding and calculating the emissions associated with your operations or products, get in touch with our team to discuss how we can help.

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A Brief Guide to the NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment

Anna Pearce — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:38:05 +0000

The NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment is the NHS’s sustainability assessment framework, designed to help suppliers demonstrate their environmental credentials and support the NHS ambition of achieving Net Zero by 2045.

For many organisations already supplying, or intending to supply, goods and services to the NHS, achieving an appropriate Evergreen Level is becoming increasingly important. From the 6th of April 2026, Level 1 is now a minimum requirement for all suppliers bidding for new NHS Supply Chain Frameworks, making it the essential first step in your sustainability journey.

What is Evergreen Level 1?

Evergreen Level 1 recognises organisations that have established the foundations of carbon management and are publicly committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve Evergreen Level 1, an organisation needs to demonstrate that it has:

A published Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) that meets UK Government Procurement Policy Note requirements.
A public commitment to achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner.
Reported Scope 1, Scope 2 and relevant Scope 3 emissions.
Practical carbon reduction measures such as energy efficiency, renewable electricity, sustainable travel and waste reduction.

Why Does It Matter?

Improved readiness for NHS procurement opportunities.
Demonstrates compliance with current NHS sustainability expectations.
Provides a foundation for progressing to higher Evergreen Levels.
Supports wider ESG, customer and stakeholder requirements.
Builds confidence in your organisation’s Net Zero strategy.

Ready to Get Started?

If your organisation supplies, or plans to supply the NHS, now is the ideal time to prepare for the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment. Contact Environmental Strategies Ltd. today to discuss how we can help you achieve Evergreen Level 1 and support your wider Net Zero journey.

How We Can Help

Environmental Strategies Ltd (ESL) has extensive experience of supporting organisations with carbon reporting, NHS sustainability requirements and Net Zero planning. We can help you to:

Identify relevant Scope 3 emission categories.
Calculate organisational greenhouse gas emissions.
Produce a compliant Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP).
Develop practical carbon reduction initiatives.
Prepare evidence for the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment.
Build a roadmap towards higher Evergreen maturity levels.

Other Upcoming Changes

From April 2027, the Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) requirements will expand for all NHS suppliers to publicly report targets and publish a CRP for global emissions. This will require full Scope 1, 2, and all 15 Scope 3 categories tracking globally.

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Is Your Carbon Reporting Software Helping or Hindering Your Sustainability Journey?

Anna Pearce — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 09:01:57 +0000

For many organisations, collecting data to calculate a carbon footprint has become one of the biggest challenges on the road to Net Zero. As reporting requirements continue to evolve, businesses are expected to gather information from multiple departments, suppliers and sites, often across Scope 1, Scope 2 and increasingly Scope 3 emissions. Most of these processes still rely on spreadsheets, disconnected systems and manual calculations that are both time-consuming and prone to error.

The good news is that technology is making carbon reporting far more efficient. At Environmental Strategies Ltd, we use NetScope with a number of our clients to help simplify the way data required for a carbon footprint is collected, managed and reported. The platform brings emissions data and calculations together in one place, providing clear dashboards, audit trails and reporting tools that help organisations gain greater confidence in their sustainability data.

One feature we’re particularly excited about is its approach to Scope 3 reporting. Gathering emissions data from suppliers has traditionally been one of the most difficult aspects of carbon reporting. NetScope’s supplier engagement tools make it much easier to request information, monitor responses and collect product carbon data in a consistent format. Even suppliers who haven’t yet measured their own emissions can be supported through the process, helping improve both data quality and collaboration across the supply chain.

The platform also includes tools that encourage staff engagement by helping employees understand their own carbon footprint while providing organisations with anonymised commuting data that can contribute towards Scope 3 reporting. It’s a great example of how sustainability software can support both compliance and behavioural change.

While software is an invaluable tool, it doesn’t replace carbon accounting experience. We continue to work closely with our clients to ensure the data collected is accurate, meaningful and supports reporting requirements such as reporting for public sector or NHS contracts, preparing data for science-based target submission and wider Net Zero strategies. As businesses face increasing pressure to understand and reduce their environmental impact, having the right systems and wrap-around support in place can make all the difference.

If you’d like to learn how Environmental Strategies Ltd can help streamline your carbon reporting using NetScope, we’d be delighted to have a conversation.

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Environmental Strategies Ltd becomes an Official ISEP Corporate Partner

Anna Pearce — Wed, 06 May 2026 09:04:38 +0000

Environmental Strategies Ltd is proud to announce that we have officially joined the ISEP Corporate Partnership Programme, strengthening our ongoing commitment to sustainability, environmental responsibility and professional excellence.

ISEP (the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals) is the leading global professional body supporting individuals and organisations working across sustainability and environmental management. Their Corporate Partnership Programme brings together organisations committed to driving meaningful environmental change and embedding sustainability into the way business operates.

Joining this growing network marks an important milestone for Environmental Strategies Ltd as we continue to support organisations in responding to the climate and environmental challenges facing businesses, communities and industries today.

Strengthening Our Commitment to Sustainability

At Environmental Strategies Ltd, we believe that sustainability must be practical, measurable, and embedded into long-term business decision-making. Becoming an ISEP Corporate Partner reinforces our dedication to maintaining high professional standards while continually developing our knowledge, skills, and impact.

The partnership provides our team with access to a range of valuable resources and opportunities, including:

Access to ISEP’s internationally recognised sustainability and environmental guidance
Professional networking events and webinars
Thought leadership papers and industry insights
Additional training and development opportunities across the sustainability sector

These benefits will help us continue delivering informed, up-to-date and effective environmental and sustainability support to our clients.

Supporting Better Environmental Outcomes

As environmental expectations continue to evolve across both public and private sectors, professional collaboration and knowledge sharing have never been more important.

Our partnership with ISEP supports our wider mission of helping organisations navigate environmental responsibilities with confidence: whether through sustainability strategy, environmental compliance, carbon reduction planning or wider ESG support.

By working alongside a respected professional institute and its wider network, we aim to continue contributing to the development of practical solutions that support both environmental protection and sustainable economic growth.

Looking Ahead

We are excited about the opportunities this partnership will create for our team, our clients and the wider sustainability community.

We would like to thank the ISEP Corporate Partnership Team for welcoming Environmental Strategies Ltd into the programme, and we look forward to building a strong and collaborative relationship in the years ahead.

For more information about our sustainability and environmental services, please contact the Environmental Strategies Ltd team or follow us on LinkedIn for future updates.

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ISO 14001:2026 – What You Need to Know

Anna Pearce — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:26:47 +0000

ISO 14001:2026 has now been published, marking the next step in the evolution of Environmental Management Systems (EMS).

While the changes are not as extensive as first proposed in the draft versions, they signal a clear shift in emphasis – one that organisations should not overlook.

Rather than introducing a complete overhaul, the updated standard refines existing requirements to better reflect today’s environmental and business landscape.

A Shift in Direction, Not Just Detail

The 2026 update reinforces a move toward greater integration of environmental management into core business strategy.

There is a stronger expectation that organisations will:

respond to changing environmental conditions
embed environmental thinking across all functions
take a more proactive and structured approach to change

This is less about adding complexity, and more about ensuring EMS are effective, relevant, and embedded.

What This Means in Practice

In practical terms, organisations may need to rethink how their EMS operates day-to-day.

Some of the most notable shifts include:

Leadership accountability extending beyond management teams
A more explicit approach to managing change
Increased focus on evaluating performance, not just monitoring it
Broader consideration of impacts across the value chain

Individually, these changes may seem incremental but collectively, they point to a more mature and outcome-focused EMS.

Don’t Wait for the Deadline

With a transition period running until April 2029, it may be tempting to delay action. However, organisations that start early will be better placed to:

spread the workload over time
embed changes more effectively
avoid last-minute compliance pressures

Early alignment also creates an opportunity to strengthen systems in a way that adds real business value, not just certification.

Where to Start

If you’re considering your next steps, a good starting point is to:

understand how the changes apply to your organisation
identify any gaps in your current EMS
begin raising awareness internally

We’ve outlined the detailed clause-by-clause changes in our supporting document, which you can download here.

How We Can Help

At Environmental Strategies Ltd, we’re supporting organisations through the transition to ISO 14001:2026 – from initial gap analysis through to full implementation.

If you’d like to discuss what the update means for your organisation, feel free to get in touch.

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How to Produce and Publish an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

Anna Pearce — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:50:08 +0000

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are becoming essential for manufacturers looking to demonstrate environmental transparency and meet growing demand for verified sustainability data.

If you’re considering producing an EPD, the process may seem technical but it’s far more manageable when broken into clear steps. Read on for our straightforward guide to what’s involved.

What Is an Environmental Product Declaration?

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardised, independently verified document that reports the environmental impacts of a product based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). EPDs typically follow recognised standards such as EN 15804, ISO 21930 or ISO 14025. They provide transparent data for specifiers, contractors, procurement teams and sustainability professionals.

Step 1. Choose Your EPD Programme

Before starting your LCA, decide which EPD Programme you intend to publish with. Each programme has its own templates, rules and fee structures. When selecting a programme, it is important to consider alignment with your target markets, compliance with recognised standards (eg EN 15804 or ISO 21930) and the full five-year cost structure.

Choosing early helps ensure the assessment is carried out correctly from the start.

Step 2. Undertake a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

An EPD is built on a robust Life Cycle Assessment. In order to undertake this, you’ll need either an experienced in-house LCA specialist or an external consultant with relevant expertise.

The LCA process will confirm applicable standards; identify the correct Product Category Rule (PCR); collect manufacturing and product data; and model environmental impacts across relevant life cycle stages.

This step is vital as getting this right ensures your EPD is accurate, credible and compliant.

Step 3. Draft the EPD

Once the LCA is complete, the results are structured into the required EPD format.

The document must clearly present:

The declared unit
System boundaries
Environmental impact indicators
Assumptions and methodology

Transparency and consistency are key.

Step 4. Independent Verification

All Environmental Product Declarations must be independently verified. An approved verifier will review:

Alignment with ISO standards and PCR rules

Data quality and completeness

Methodology and assumptions

Consistency across the document

This step ensures the declaration is robust and trustworthy.

It is recommended to engage in this verification process at the very start of the LCA project – to ensure timely delivery of the publishable EPD document.

Step 5. Submit and Publish

After verification, the final documents are submitted to the chosen EPD Programme. Once publishing fees are settled and checks are completed, the EPD is published in the programme’s public database and assigned a unique registration number.

Most EPDs are valid for five years, unless significant product changes require an update.

Do You Need Advice on Environmental Product Declarations?

Producing an EPD doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Environmental Strategies Ltd provides independent advice to help organisations understand EPD requirements; the difference between these and product carbon footprints; interpret standards; review life cycle assessment (LCA) outputs and make informed decisions throughout the process.

While we do not produce or verify EPDs directly, we can support you in selecting the right approach, refer you to our preferred partners and help you appoint appropriately qualified practitioners.

If you’d like strategic guidance on your EPD pathway, interpretation of standards or support in planning your LCA, get in touch with our team to discuss your options.

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ISO 14001 Re-Issued: What You Need to Know

Anna Pearce — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:01:50 +0000

ISO 14001, the international standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS), will be re-issued in March this year as ISO 14001:2026. The updated version reflects how environmental expectations are changing, particularly around climate change, sustainability and supply chains.

At its core, ISO 14001 still helps organisations manage their environmental impacts in a structured and effective way. However, the revised Standard places greater emphasis on understanding wider environmental conditions, such as climate change, pollution and the use of natural resources. Organisations are also expected to take a broader life-cycle view, considering not only their own activities but also impacts linked to suppliers, contractors and end-of-life disposal. Leadership also plays a more visible role in the updated Standard, with increased focus on embedding environmental responsibility into everyday decision-making, rather than treating it as a compliance exercise. There is also a new emphasis on managing change, helping organisations respond to regulatory updates, operational changes and new technologies in a more structured way.

It is currently expected that organisations will have a three-year transition period to move to ISO 14001:2026. However, we here at ESL believe that early preparation can help spread the workload and avoid pressure closer to certification deadlines.

Environmental Strategies Ltd supports organisations at every stage of the process, from understanding what the changes mean in practical terms, through to updating documentation, completing gap analyses and supporting transition to the revised Standard. We work with businesses of all sizes to make ISO 14001 clear, manageable and proportionate.

As part of our BSI Associate Consultant Programme (ACP) membership, we can also help our clients gain first access to the updated Standard, including a pre-order package that provides early access to the Final Draft version as well as guidance for use, all at a discounted price.

Our more detailed summary of the changes is available to download by clicking here.

Please get in touch if you would like support with ISO 14001 or help preparing for the updated Standard.

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Environmental Strategies Ltd. Director Named in Environment 100 2025 Winners

Anna Pearce — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 09:55:30 +0000

We are thrilled to announce that our company director, Helen Sprakes, has been recognised in the prestigious Environment 100 list for 2025, as published by the ESS Expo. The Environment 100 is an annual showcase of individuals and organisations across the UK who are leading the way on environmental sustainability: through innovation, impact, leadership, and dedication to positive change. Winners are celebrated at the ESS Expo, held this year at the NEC in Birmingham, highlighting those who set the benchmark for environmental progress. The whole ESL team joined Helen at the NEC to see her receive this award and help her celebrate this fantastic achievement.

At Environmental Strategies Ltd, our mission is to help businesses “grow greener” – to help them strengthen their environmental credentials in a way that also makes economic sense. Over 20 years, we have built our reputation on helping clients achieve ISO certification, reduce carbon emissions, navigate regulation & compliance, and embed sustainability into the heart of their operations. Helen’s recognition speaks to the commitment and integrity of our entire team. It underscores the tangible difference we’re making — not just in assisting other organisations, but in contributing to the broader movement towards net zero, environmental responsibility, and sustainable business practices.

We see this award as both a milestone and a spur for even greater ambition. Some of the ways we’ll be building from here include:

Intensifying support for clients aiming for net zero goals, especially via carbon management planning, performance tracking, and energy management systems.
Broadening our outreach and education efforts – helping more businesses understand the value of sustainable practices, both to their bottom line and to the environment.
Innovating further in how we deliver environmental and energy consultancy, by finding new ways and methodologies to be more effective, more impactful, and more future-focused.

We’d like to thank all our partners and team members, this recognition is every bit as much yours as it is Helen’s. And we especially thank our clients who trust us with their environmental and energy strategies to let us be part of their growth journeys.

To read more about the 2025 Environment 100 winners, visit the ESS Expo website. ESS Expo

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Our Climate Crisis

Anna Pearce — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 08:32:48 +0000

Pictured left to rignt: Our lead energy engineer, Sean Casey with Grace Yoxall and our Sustainability Consultant Madison Marner after an energy audit for one of our clients.

My name is Grace Yoxall; I am 14 years old and I’m currently doing work experience at Environmental Strategies Limited. I’ve completed an IEMA sustainability skills for the workforce course and I’ve put together some information about what I’ve learnt.

In the past 150 years we have noticed the warming of the atmosphere and oceans, sea levels have risen, and overall, many extreme weather and climate events. Climate change has always been around. We have experienced unpredictable natural shifts, however since the mid-20^th century people began to realise that these events were linked to human activity and we were a main cause of accelerating this climate crisis. For example, the burning of fossil fuels in power stations that we use for electricity such as coal and natural gas releases carbon emissions into the atmosphere, essentially heating up the world.

So, what happens If we don’t take action quickly enough to prevent this global issue from getting increasingly worse? First of all, the change in ocean temperature would cause the coral reefs to be more vulnerable to disease and death, and they would face severe degradation. Next, the Artic is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth, and ice-free summers would become a fearful reality. However, it wouldn’t just be our environment we’d be destroying, heat waves would become more frequent around the world, affecting millions- or even billions of people every 5 years putting them at risk. These are just a few of the horrors we would be confronted with as a society.

So how long do we have? Scientists say that we would need to cut our yearly global emissions in half by 2030 to avoid raising global temperatures by 1.5 degrees Celsius. Despite our efforts, many impacts of global warming are now already irreversible, such as extreme species loss from land to marine animals, as well as major climate disasters and hot temperatures becoming more common.

How can you help? The first step is to be aware. You can do this by tracking your own carbon footprint, or if you’re a business, track it for your organisation. Once you’ve done this, you know how much carbon you need to cut down. If you’re a business which manufactures products, use a life cycle analysis. This means to consider environmental impacts outside of your company’s direct control. Assessing the impacts of a product from the raw materials, all the way through to when it’s finally disposed of.

To reach our global Net Zero goal, everyone needs to do their part in making your life as sustainable as it can be. It can be things as easy as switching the lights off as you leave a room, or things like investing In solar panels on your roof. Environmental Strategies can help businesses to play their part – calculating carbon footprints and advising on reduction actions. Please get in touch to discuss your climate ambitions.

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