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Net Zero: 5 Things We’ve Learned So Far
Our commitment to Net Zero isn’t just a target on paper, it’s a journey that’s reshaping how we think, plan, and act as a business.
In the spirit of Net Zero Week, we’re opening up about what we’ve discovered along the way: the progress, the hurdles, and the lessons that are helping us move forward being a more sustainable organisation.
Here are five lessons that have shaped North’s Net Zero journey so far, lessons that will keep shaping it as we go.
1. You can’t manage what you don’t measure
Our first step wasn’t bold new projects or big announcements, it was making sure we truly understood our impact. North invested time and effort in measuring our carbon footprint to give us a data-driven, accurate starting point and made our goals real, rather than just aspirational.
2. Engagement is everything
Net Zero isn’t something owned by a single team. Real change has come from involving colleagues across the business: technical experts, operations teams, and even those who would not consider sustainability to be part of their daily operations. Their ideas and commitment will be critical to North as an organisation reaching our targets.
3. Small wins add up
From reducing energy use in our offices to rethinking procurement and travel, we’ve seen how smaller initiatives can collectively make a big difference. It keeps momentum going, even as we work on larger-scale projects.
4. Progress isn’t always linear
Like many organisations, we’ve had setbacks: external challenges, evolving guidance, and simply balancing the fact that North is a growing organisation, with a corresponding footprint. The key has been learning quickly, adapting, and staying transparent; both internally and externally.
5. Customers and communities care: so should we
Our Net Zero journey isn’t just about our own operations. Our customers in Public Services, Defence & Justice, and Enterprise & Data Centres expect credible, evidence-based action. And we’ve seen that when we do the right thing, it strengthens our partnerships and reputation.
What’s coming up?
We’re not stopping here. We’ve launched a dedicated Net Zero webpage to share our roadmap, data, and next steps, and to keep the conversation going.
Together, small steps and shared lessons can lead to big change.