Green Mark

Sustainability made practical: Green Mark's actionable path to net zero

As environmental targets become tighter and the demand for greener operations grows louder, organisations across sectors are grappling with the “how” of sustainability. The recent Concerto User Community webinar hosted in partnership with Green Mark and Carbon Architecture delivered both clarity and a call to action.

This dynamic session brought together public and private sector professionals to explore how estates, suppliers and service providers can begin or accelerate their journey toward net zero. Here's what we learned.

A practical framework for sustainability

Jamie Craddock, senior account manager at Green Mark and Dave Price, director at Carbon Architecture, walked attendees through the foundations and benefits of Green Mark accreditation a pragmatic, tiered sustainability framework that makes action accessible for organisations of all sizes.

The goal? To embed real, measurable environmental improvements at the local level and across supply chains.

“Sustainability isn't just a moral imperative—it's an operational advantage,” Jamie noted. “From lower energy bills to improved community outcomes, the benefits are real and tangible.”

The three pillars of Green Mark

Green Mark accreditation is built around the three Ps:

1. People – Engaging teams and empowering site champions

2. Policies – Defining clear environmental intentions

3. Procedures – Implementing repeatable, trackable actions

From Level 1 (Awareness) to Level 3 (Leadership), organisations follow a clear progression that covers:

• Utilities, waste, and local environmental impact (Level 1)

• Procurement and travel policies (Level 2)

• Comprehensive environmental management systems (Level 3)

Each level is supported by tools, templates, and access to expert support.

Aligning with government requirements

The session put a spotlight on emerging compliance frameworks such as PPN 06/21 and NHS Net Zero Supply Chain requirements. These require organisations to:

• Publish Carbon Reduction Plans (CRPs)

• Report on Scope 1, 2, and key Scope 3 emissions

• Demonstrate a public pledge to net zero by 2050

Green Mark is positioned as a valuable entry point to meet these standards and bridge the gap between intent and action.

The power of community and behavioural change

What makes Green Mark unique is its emphasis on bottom-up change: creating cultural shifts within organisations by:

• Nominating sustainability champions at the site level

• Encouraging ownership and localised action plans

• Building momentum with small wins (like switching to LED lighting)

This approach was validated by data shared from existing clients, including:

• A 30% energy saving from basic infrastructure upgrades

• A 58% jump in baseline tracking post-accreditation

• Increased engagement and confidence among staff and residents

Case studies: From councils to care homes

Two standout case studies demonstrated how sustainability scales across contexts:

• Sutton's Green Enterprise Partnership: Supported over 150 SMEs and public bodies in making pledges and reducing emissions.

• Oakland Care: Embedded sustainability in procurement, volunteering, and site-level biodiversity, improving both resident well-being and operational performance.

Supply chain sustainability: A growing priority

The session also delved into how to bring suppliers on the journey. Key takeaways included:

• Include sustainability commitments in procurement scoring criteria

• Ask suppliers to sign net zero pledges

• Support smaller businesses in starting their own Green Mark journey

As Dave Price highlighted:

“Reach is everything. If your suppliers aren't tracking emissions, they're not just missing targets, they're costing you and the planet.”

Getting started: No wrong time, no wrong size

The call to action was clear: Start where you are. Whether you're a single-location business, a borough council, or a national operator, Green Mark offers an accessible, scalable and fully supported path forward.

As one participant said during the Q&A:

“I'm running around my house switching out lightbulbs now. That's the power of a good webinar.”

Final thoughts

With new regulations looming and public expectations rising, sustainability is no longer a niche issue. It's a core operational imperative and with tools like Green Mark and partners like Concerto and Carbon Architecture, it's more achievable than ever.

If you're looking to reduce costs, meet compliance, and build a greener future, now's the time to take the first step.