Shaping the future - Shining a spotlight on water at Sustainability Live 2025

In September, we joined leading voices at Sustainability LIVE in London, where our Director of Sales and Sustainable Solutions, Tom Abel, took part in a panel discussion on Global Decarbonisation Strategies. He was joined by experts Alex Sutton from SSE plc, Deborah C. from Müller UK & Ireland, Layton Hill from Schneider Electric and Sven Wiltink from Radisson Hotel Group.

Collaboration is key

The panel considered a range of topics, including the pace of progress on decarbonisation; what’s working well and where advances are being made; the biggest barriers to large-scale decarbonisation; and the important role technology plays in supporting companies to reduce their carbon footprint.

Consensus across the panel was clear - collaboration is essential and it’s only by working together with Government, partners and suppliers that full-scale decarbonisation and, ultimately, net zero will be achieved. And there was strong agreement on the complexity of this topic too - achieving carbon reductions isn’t an easy task and any progress should be commended.

The business case for net zero

Tom shared his reflections on the benefits of decarbonisation and transitioning to a net zero economy:

“In the context of the climate crisis we’re facing, we simply don’t have a choice. We know that we all have a responsibility to reduce our impact on the environment and by transitioning to a net zero economy, we can reverse some of the damage being caused by climate change.

As a water retailer, we play a vital role in helping businesses to decarbonise by identifying and delivering water efficiencies. Beyond the clear environmental benefits to be gained, a strategic approach to effective water management is also helping to protect supplies and support businesses’ operational risk management plans as we face into the reality that water resources are becoming more limited.

“And while transitioning to a net zero economy can sometimes come with associated costs, it’s also providing opportunities to save money – we’re seeing an increasing number of companies that are coming to us for support about reducing their water use. While the driver may be to reduce their environmental impact, particularly for those with water reduction targets, by using less water they’re seeing a direct impact on their bottom line too, and not just in their water bills but in their energy bills as well.

“Innovation and technology are playing a key role in this journey, and will need to continue to evolve and mature to enable companies to achieve their carbon reduction targets. Our PowerBI reporting suite, which includes our innovative Intelligent Water Management tool, for example, are helping customers track consumption, identify spikes in water use, receive alerts and understand the carbon impact of their water use in a visual format that empowers them to take ownership and make informed decisions.”

Supporting our customers on the path to net zero

We know that we’re facing a very real and growing challenge around climate change and water scarcity specifically, which is why we’re committed to helping our customers take ownership of their water use and, in turn, reduce their water use and their carbon footprint.

We’re proud to be part of the conversation around sustainability and net zero, and to be taking practical, meaningful steps to support our customers on their sustainability journeys.

To find out how we’re working towards our own net zero goal, read our 2025 sustainability report here.