Question 1

Why should we invest in sustainability and ESG now?

Accepted Answer

Sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) are now fundamental to doing business. Evolving regulation, tightening ESG disclosure requirements, rising investor scrutiny, and increasing customer expectations mean organisations must actively address climate change, carbon reduction, and responsible business practices. Acting now reduces risk, unlocks efficiencies, strengthens resilience, and positions your business ahead of competitors.

Question 2

How is Aethr different from other ESG and sustainability consultancies?

Accepted Answer

We are hands-on, flexible, and outcome-focused. You work directly with practitioners with experience leading successful businesses. We remain involved throughout delivery, ensuring sustainability strategies translate into measurable business impact.

Question 3

Can you help if we are at an early stage of sustainability?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We support organisations at all stages of their sustainability journey – building ESG strategies from the ground up, identifying quick wins, and creating a clear path towards net zero and long-term value.

Question 4

What if we already have a sustainability or ESG strategy?

Accepted Answer

We refine and accelerate existing ESG strategies, aligning them to net zero targets, improving performance, and focusing on actions that deliver measurable commercial and environmental impact.

Question 5

Do you specialise in sustainability for the food industry?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We have deep experience supporting food producers, manufacturers, and non-food businesses supplying materials into the industry. The food industry faces unique sustainability challenges, from Scope 3 emissions, packaging, food waste, and retailer requirements to climate risk impacts on food production, and we provide practical, commercially grounded solutions.

Question 6

How do you help complex food businesses to make their supply chains more sustainable?

Accepted Answer

Food supply chains are often fragmented and light on data. We integrate sustainability data across suppliers, improve visibility of emissions and risk, and create practical frameworks to drive consistent delivery across the value chain.

Question 7

How do you build a commercially beneficial sustainability strategy?

Accepted Answer

We integrate sustainability strategy into your core business model, aligning ESG objectives with growth, cost efficiency, risk management, and competitive positioning. This ensures sustainability becomes a driver of long-term value.

Question 8

What does a great sustainability strategy include?

Accepted Answer

A robust sustainability strategy starts with a materiality assessment, identifying which environmental and social issues matter most to your business. From there we establish a carbon baseline, measuring your current emissions so you have a clear starting point. We then set science-aligned targets (e.g. net zero), develop a prioritised delivery roadmap, and put in place clear governance structures to ensure accountability and execution.

Question 9

Where do we start with decarbonisation and carbon reduction?

Accepted Answer

We begin with a carbon footprint assessment (Scope 1, 2, and Scope 3 emissions), identify key carbon reduction opportunities, and develop a phased decarbonisation strategy aligned to net zero goals.

Question 10

Will decarbonisation increase our costs?

Accepted Answer

At Aethr we see first hand how interventions generate cost savings. Through our analysis work we see carbon emissions are a proxy for inefficiency and cost. High embodied carbon can indicate energy waste and operational inefficiencies, so reducing emissions typically unlocks cost savings. Where investment is required, we prioritise high-impact, cost-effective solutions.

Question 11

Why do we need a climate risk assessment now?

Accepted Answer

Climate risk is already impacting supply chains, operations, and product costs, whether that is through extreme weather and rising temperatures, or increased regulatory and market pressure. Early climate risk assessment enables better decision-making, supports regulatory compliance, and improves resource prioritisation.

Question 12

What does a climate risk and scenario analysis involve?

Accepted Answer

We assess physical risks (e.g. extreme weather, flooding) and transition risks (e.g. regulation, market changes), translating them into clear financial and operational impacts. Our approach aligns with leading frameworks such as TCFD.

Question 13

How do you assess business resilience and business risk?

Accepted Answer

We conduct a structured engagement with your senior leadership team to assess enterprise risk. This provides a clear view of risk exposure, current mitigation, and priority actions, supporting better strategic decision-making.

Question 14

What risks can you help us manage?

Accepted Answer

We assess enterprise risk across five key areas: strategic, governance, social, climate, and transition risk. This ensures a comprehensive view of business risk exposure and helps prioritise actions aligned to your business objectives and sustainability strategy that strengthen long-term resilience.

Frequently asked questions

Why should we invest in sustainability and ESG now?

What does a sustainability consultancy actually deliver?

What ROI can we expect from a sustainability and ESG strategy?