Despite wanting to do the right thing, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) often find that zero transition planning is a significant and complicated challenge. 

Discover how one small business discovered a step-by-step approach that allowed them to build a coherent plan that addressed specific and technical issues.

SwimTrek

SwimTrek is the world’s largest swimming-based travel company, offering water-focused tours to destinations across the world. Working with local providers and family-owned businesses, they offer personalized experiences and small tours for those keen to explore the world via swimming. 

Achieving net zero by 2050

SwimTrek has a 2050 target for net zero but does not yet have a detailed roadmap of how they are going to achieve it, or any short-term goals. Some actions on reducing impact have been taken, such as investing in electric motors for their tour boats to cut diesel/petrol use and moving offices, but the impacts for this have not been quantified. 

COVID-19 affected them badly and, since then, they have been keen to build a more resilient and climate-focused organizational structure. As part of this, they are exploring other certifications, such as B-Corp, to demonstrate their commitment to social impacts beyond carbon emissions. 

Recently, they have been investing in tree planting to help engage customers and make a positive impact, but this has not been quantified in terms of their carbon footprint or claimed as an offset. 

At the start of their journey, SwimTrek had not claimed carbon neutrality.

Net zero challenges and action

As a water-based travel company, SwimTrek relies heavily on boats, many of which run on diesel or petrol. 

Due to the nature of their business, SwimTrek appreciates that their carbon footprint is likely to be high. However, public data for this is difficult to come by and they have been working on their own methodology to quantify their carbon footprint, working with industry partners and using some free tools to get a sense of their footprint; but it has taken considerable capacity and resources. 

Quantifying their overall energy usage and its impact has been a much harder process. As a small team, the challenge is to gather data at a sufficient scale and pace to complete footprints whilst dealing with daily operations as a growing SME. 

This has not held back their action. Despite having no clear destination for their carbon foot printing journey, they have prioritized activities such as investing in electric motors for their tour boats to cut diesel/petrol use. They are also working with more sustainable local hotels that offer more thoughtful experiences for their customers. 

The bigger picture

As an industry, there is surprisingly little regulation or pressure around net zero. SwimTrek is not under direct pressure to follow guidelines or meet certain standards. So far, this void has left them wanting to do the right thing, but without a clear idea of what ‘good’ looks like. 

While in other sectors, supplier requirements and legislation are providing a clear checklist to follow, BSI Flex 3030 has filled this gap and given them clear aims for what to do.

Working with more ethical providers has provided some challenges already, as getting engagement from them on sustainability has been difficult. While useful for internal processes, technical net zero terms covered in BSI Flex 3030 do need to be understood by all parties to maximize collaboration.

The challenge for micro-businesses is to broaden their focus from physically visible items (e.g. plastic shampoo bottles) to a more systemic focus that will have a more profound impact on their carbon footprint. Thus, a core part of SwimTrek’s journey is around engaging their suppliers to quantify so that, together, they can have the most impact.

Building a robust net zero transition plan

BSI Flex 3030 has proved a useful tool for SwimTrek to assess and build their transition plan.

The clear, rational process laid out in the document for them to follow is its most useful aspect. Rather than making up the journey on their own, SwimTrek now know what to do next, and ultimately what their end goal looks like. This helps them to start building a programme of actions.

Internally, this allows their sustainability leader to assign resources and time within the business with a more robust set of targets and key performance indicators (KPIs), which were previously lacking.

As a result of using BSI Flex 3030, SwimTrek’s priority for 2025 is to put in place a complete transition plan with deadlines. This will provide a month-by-month focus on the tasks to complete as they fill in gaps in knowledge and build a picture of their overall sustainability story.

Learn more about how standards are supporting organizations to achieve their net zero targets, by visiting our Net Zero topic page.

Beyond the business

BSI Flex 3030 has been helpful in providing a framework by which to engage with suppliers.

The ability to compare suppliers’ progress with what is in the standard’s guidance has given SwimTrek the confidence to judge their progress and begin to hold others to account. It also helps them to have productive conversations around what is going on in the industry. This ability to measure themselves has been a valuable outcome of using the standard and has given structure and confidence to go further and faster. 

Net zero targets and goals will be integrated throughout SwimTrek’s business operations as understanding increases, with suppliers chosen based on their own individual achievements.

A framework for net zero action

Without the BSI Flex 3030, SwimTrek would have continued to attempt to make progress on their journey, but in a piecemeal and fragmented way, without clear direction. Thankfully, the use of the standard has given a simple and practical framework for actions that they can take going forward.

‘We found that the BSI Flex 3030 takes a massive and complicated subject and turns it into a straightforward process document that is practical to follow and implement.’ - SwimTrek

Next steps

For SwimTrek, the next challenge is in finding the right partners and suppliers on the next steps of their transition. While they have a clearer idea of an action plan now in place, delivering on this will take time and the management of internal priorities. 

Navigating the vast array of organizations out there can feel like a bit of a minefield and result in paralysis. With so many carbon calculators and platforms available, choosing one can be time-consuming and detract from taking higher impact decisions on the organization. 

SwimTrek have found the standard really helpful. With so much to do and get distracted by, there’s been huge value in having a document that breaks it down so they can tackle it step by step.

About BSI Flex 3030

BSI Flex 3030 Net zero transition plans for small and medium enterprises. Code of practice can be used by any size or type of organization, profit or non-profit, but it is designed primarily for use by those with fewer than 250 employees.

This standard can help you get to grips with your net zero transition by providing a clear and simple code of practice. In other words, it outlines the right way to do things, as agreed by a consensus of experts in the field.

It gives practical step-by-step guidance, arranged so that you can follow a logical sequence of actions to develop, implement and maintain your transition plans.

And it’ll help whether you’re working on an internal plan, or responding to external requirements, from a potential new client, for example.

Plus, there is now also a short introductory guide and checklist to BSI Flex 3030. This simple tool might be useful in fully understanding the aims and principles behind the Flex and translating those into practical action.

Download your copy for free here.

Join others like you online

If you have any questions about BSI Flex 3030 or other thoughts about your own net zero transition, please visit the Sustainability Standards Hub, or email us on sustainabilitystandards@bsigroup.com.

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