Sustainability can sometimes feel like something businesses need to have completely figured out before they can talk about it.
But for most businesses, that's not how progress happens.
Switch2Zero Stories: Sustainability in Action is about sharing real-world examples of businesses taking practical steps and making progress along the way.
Some of those actions happen behind the scenes, while others become part of the customer experience.
For our first story, we're recognising Intelsius.
More than one way to make a difference
Intelsius has been taking action on sustainability for years, including a partnership with whale and dolphin conservation charity ORCA that dates back to 2011.
Since then, the business has continued to look at different ways it can reduce its impact, from the products it develops to the way it operates.
That includes introducing solar panels and LED lighting, recycling waste and increasing the use of renewable energy in manufacturing. Its GreenTherm dry ice packaging is 100% recyclable and made from more than 70% recycled materials, while its reusable packaging is designed to help customers reduce single-use waste in their own supply chains.
Intelsius is also working towards reaching net zero by 2040.
It's not the result of one big sustainability initiative. It's been built through changes across different parts of the business over time.
Bringing customers into the story
Much of Intelsius' sustainability work happens through its products, manufacturing and day-to-day operations. Their tree planting initiative is different because they've made it part of the customer experience.
From the moment someone lands on their online store, they'll see that 5% of their basket value goes towards planting trees through Switch2Zero. The message follows them through the buying journey, from browsing and adding products to their basket, right through to checkout.
Customers can also follow the initiative through a live tree-planting counter, showing the growing number of trees planted through Intelsius purchases.
For Intelsius, that visibility is part of the point.
“New customers want to see real action being taken, and planting trees with Switch2Zero is a great, highly visible way to demonstrate that.”
Jens Mangelsen, Chief Commercial Officer
Sustainability won't be the only reason someone chooses a business, but it can influence the decision. For Intelsius, making its action visible gives customers something tangible to connect with and another reason to choose the brand.
As Jens puts it, “We wanted our customers to feel empowered when choosing to purchase products from Intelsius and give them a sense of direct contribution to carbon reducing initiatives.”
Tree planting isn't just something Intelsius does. It's something customers can be part of.
Progress is something you build
Over the last decade, Intelsius has been learning how to measure and reduce its impact across different parts of the business, from reporting and operations to manufacturing and product design. That work is still evolving as the business works towards its net-zero goal for 2040.
Next, Intelsius plans to expand its tree-planting initiatives alongside its wider carbon-reduction work and its portfolio of recyclable and reusable products.
So, if you're reading this and wondering whether you need to have everything figured out before taking action, hopefully Intelsius' story shows that you don't.
Progress rarely comes from one big decision. More often, it's built through the choices businesses make over time, whether that's changing how they operate, developing new products or finding ways to involve their customers.
Intelsius is still working towards its 2040 net-zero goal, but that hasn't stopped them from taking action along the way.
And that's what Switch2Zero Stories: Sustainability in Action is here to highlight.
