A survey of 1,021 firms, conducted by YouGov for energy firm World Kinect Energy Services, found that while 40% of U.K. small and medium enterprises (SMEs) don’t yet have a sustainability plan in place, 30% don’t have any intention of adopting one. That contrasts with 53% of SMEs who have plans in place to comply with 2050 emissions targets. Meanwhile, more than a quarter of the firms surveyed said the coronavirus pandemic had affected their plans to adopt more sustainable measures. Small firms make up 99.3% of private sector businesses in Britain, and SMEs have been estimated to account for 45% of the country’s business energy use. In a survey of U.K. businesses last year, the Enterprise Trust think tank found almost two thirds (61%) of firms thought the move to a greener economy presented “positive opportunities.” Only 8% of respondents disagreed.

Source: Forbes February 15, 2021 16:18 UTC