The Co-operative Bank and Zellar kick off new partnership to boost SME net zero efforts
The Co-operative Bank has partnered with Zellar to help businesses track their environmental impact, save costs, reduce their energy bills and offset their carbon emissions through UK projects. The collaboration will provide The Co-operative Bank’s business customers with a discounted subscription to the Zellar platform. To mark the launch of the partnership The Co-operative Bank is offering access to Zellar for one year, for free, for the first 200 business customers that sign up.
Research shows that 77 per cent² of Britain’s SMEs don’t know where to begin when it comes to tackling sustainability and that they struggle to break this inertia. Zellar’s sustainability platform makes it easy for SMEs to take their first steps towards creating a sustainable business - and maintain it. As the only UK high-street bank with a customer-led Ethical Policy, The Co-operative Bank has committed to inspiring others to develop a target-driven sustainability strategy and is supporting customers who want to evolve how their businesses operate. Business banking customers of the Bank have shared how they find it difficult to make sustainable changes within their businesses, including steps towards a net zero status. SMEs understand how important this is, they just don’t know where to start. The partnership between Zellar and The Co-operative Bank will connect a large number of SMEs with access to Zellar’s single view sustainability platform, providing them with the tools and guidance to transform their operations.
Zellar enables businesses to understand their current environmental impact and provides them with a simple plan aimed at reducing energy usage and emissions. This often leads to meaningful cost savings, never more so important than in today’s climate of rocketing energy prices. Many of the measures can be implemented from within the platform with features such as: commission free access to the best green energy tariffs; a curated green technology marketplace and a panel of high impact carbon offsetting projects.
All businesses receive a Zellar score so they can track their net zero progress. Climate positive actions are logged within the Zellar platform and their score is adjusted accordingly. The platform makes it easy for businesses to share their sustainability journey and score with customers, employees and stakeholders. Zellar also offers UK-based carbon offset projects, biodiversity initiatives, volunteering days and a community to share and learn with like-minded businesses³
Catherine Douglas, managing director of SME Banking at The Co-operative Bank said:
‘’We’re delighted to be working collaboratively with Zellar to introduce its innovative solution to our customers that’s designed to help businesses achieve a more sustainable way of working. We know that combating climate change is important to our customers and we continue to look for new ways we can support them to make a difference within their own businesses as we continually strive to have a positive impact on the environment and communities we operate in.’’
Gary Styles, CEO and founder of Zellar, said:
“Zellar is on mission to make sustainability possible for Britain’s six million SMEs. But currently most SMEs don’t even know where to start. The Co-operative Bank is helping us to get the Zellar platform into the hands of SMEs, up and down the country, enable them to understand their environmental impact on the planet, and take actions in their community to reduce and offset. And at the same time reduce their costs. We’re thrilled to be partnering with such a legendary business as The Co-operative Bank. It was clear from the start that our values of integrity, community and partnership align - and we hope this is just the start.”
The launch offer is now closed. All Co-operative Bank customers can now benefit from a 20% discount to the cost of Zellar, however Community Directplus customers benefit from 50% off.
Notes to editor
The Co-operative Bank business customers will access a preferential 20% discount on their first annual subscription to Zellar. Subscription fees vary depending on the business size.
Small Business Britain & BT 2021
UK-based carbon offset projects include peatland restoration with Caledonian Climate, biodiversity projects include RSPB nature reserve restoration and Scottish sea-wilding, and volunteering with the Canal and Rivers Trust and the Wildlife Trust.