We’ve had a steady stream of pro-electric vehicle news stories this summer – R&D investment, supplier pledges, far off in the future pledges to ban petrol/diesel vehicles, but the one that encourages me most is the pledge by 100 UK organisations to buy at least 5% of their fleet electric. Why? Because we can plan and innovate all we like, but only demand will make a sustainable economy happen. Demand drives investment, innovation, reduces costs, improves quality and focusses minds.

This means that any organisation worth its sustainability salt should be using their buying power to drive change amongst their suppliers. Every dollar spent on more sustainable products, materials and/or energy not only reduces that organisation’s own footprint, but makes it easier for others to reduce theirs.