Edinburgh is embarking on an ambitious journey towards becoming a greener, more sustainable urban centre. The city’s drive to become a more sustainable hub represents a concerted effort to transform urban areas of Scotland into models of environmental responsibility and sustainability. 

While plans are still being decided on how to create the eco-friendly neighbourhood in Seafield, businesses have an opportunity to actively participate in more sustainable practices, and contribute to the city’s vision. Here, we’ll explore how companies can join in and contribute to Edinburgh’s green transformation, highlighting the importance of corporate sustainability initiatives and providing practical steps for reducing environmental impact.

Understanding the eco-friendly neighbourhood initiative

The City of Edinburgh Council unveiled a plan to transform Seafield, located in north-east Edinburgh, into a new eco-friendly neighbourhood. The plan aims to connect the coastline to surrounding areas like Leith, Portobello, and Craigentinny while addressing the city’s housing shortage. The area, currently used for car showrooms, light industry, and recycling facilities, is earmarked for up to 2,700 new homes, with 35% of them intended to be affordable. 

The development will feature higher-density flats, townhouses, and colony-style homes, alongside community amenities such as a primary school, GP surgery, and green spaces. A Waterfront Park and a promenade are proposed to integrate Seafield into the broader waterfront communities. In addition to social housing, the masterplan emphasises sustainable features, such as improved public transport and cycling routes, and the introduction of a heat network to support Edinburgh’s net-zero goals and reduce utility costs for future residents. 

How businesses can contribute

Use what exists already

Businesses have a wide array of options to contribute to Edinburgh’s eco-friendly vision for the future. The first is to follow in the steps of millions of consumers already adopting the trend of buying used, or repairing what you have rather than buying new. In commercial settings, it’s almost standard procedure to always invest in new equipment, whether it’s technology, printers or office equipment. But it’s not always necessary. Using what we already have and which is otherwise going to waste not only reduces items going to landfill but it also saves companies money. 

Opt for renewables

In terms of energy efficiency, companies can start by conducting comprehensive energy audits to identify areas of high consumption. Implementing energy-saving technologies, from renewable power to smaller changes such as LED lighting and smart HVAC systems, can significantly reduce energy use across the entire business, to dramatically cut carbon emissions.

Manage waste levels

Waste reduction and management offer another avenue for significant impact. Businesses should implement robust recycling programmes, ensuring that recyclable materials are properly sorted and processed, taking advantage of the council’s guidance on waste disposal compliance. Reducing single-use plastics in operations and customer interactions can make a substantial difference, while for businesses in the food and hospitality sectors, implementing composting schemes for organic waste will divert a significant amount of material from landfills.

Sustainable supplies

Sustainable procurement is a powerful tool for businesses to extend their environmental impact beyond their immediate operations. Sourcing from local, eco-friendly suppliers not only helps companies reduce transportation emissions but also supports the local green economy and helps it to grow. Adopting circular economy principles in product design and lifecycle management and implementing green purchasing policies ensures that sustainability is a key consideration in all procurement decisions.

Go green on the roads

Edinburgh’s traffic congestion is a widely debated issue and beyond causing frustration for residents, it contributes significantly to the city’s air pollution. Taking advantage of green transportation initiatives can significantly reduce a company’s carbon footprint while also promoting employee health and wellbeing. 

For example, encouraging cycling and walking among employees through incentive programmes or improved facilities, can help to reduce commute-related emissions. Similarly, offering incentives for public transport use, such as subsidised passes, can further decrease reliance on personal vehicles. For companies with vehicle fleets, transitioning to electric or hybrid models will dramatically cut emissions.

Get employees involved

Employee engagement is a crucial component for success with any corporate sustainability initiative. Creating green teams within the company can help to foster a culture of environmental responsibility and generate new ideas for ways the business can operate in an eco-friendlier way. But sustainability training and education is also a worthwhile investment to empower employees to make sustainable choices both at work and in their personal lives. Implementing incentive programs for eco-friendly behaviours will also motivate staff to actively participate in the company’s green initiatives.

Resources and Support

Already, companies like Edinburgh universities and colleges, NHS, the City of Edinburgh Council, and private sector companies like SP Energy Networks are working with the Net Zero Edinburgh Leadership Board to help the city meet 2030 targets. But there are opportunities for smaller businesses to get involved too. 

Edinburgh’s ‘Business for Good’ scheme offers a range of support for businesses looking to become more sustainably-focused. These include workshops and online courses, access to sustainability mentors, and information on best practices. The programme  also facilitates quarterly networking opportunities, allowing businesses to connect with others on similar journeys.

Funding and incentives are also available for certain green initiatives, particularly those focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption. These can help offset the initial costs of sustainability measures, making it easier for businesses of all sizes to participate.

The steps outlined here provide a roadmap for businesses to align with Edinburgh’s vision of a greener, more sustainable future. As more companies join in to make this vision a reality, Edinburgh moves closer to its goal of becoming a model eco-friendly urban centre, setting an example for cities around the world.