A Cleaner Path Forward: What Net Zero Looks Like in 2026

From Momentum to Meaningful Action

Happy New Year to all the NCZ community!

As we move into 2026, sustainability continues to shift from expectation to shared responsibility. For many businesses, this year is about going beyond intention and strengthening the foundations that support real, lasting change.

Over the past year, conversations around Net Zero have become more informed and more practical. Organisations are asking better questions, looking for clearer data, and recognising that genuine progress comes from transparency, accountability, and consistent action, not quick wins.

Credibility Comes First

In 2026, credibility matters more than ever. Customers, partners, and stakeholders want to see evidence behind commitments. That means accurate measurement, honest reporting, and strategies that are realistic and deliverable.

Building trust isn’t about getting everything perfect, it’s about showing progress you can stand behind.

Participation Drives Progress

Net Zero can’t be achieved in isolation. It depends on participation across teams, supply chains, and industries. When more organisations get involved, at any size or stage, the collective impact becomes far more meaningful. Every step forward counts.

Turning Strategy Into Action

This year is about embedding sustainability into everyday decisions. From energy use and procurement to digital operations and supplier engagement, progress happens when sustainability is part of how businesses operate, not something separate.

Looking Ahead

At NCZ, we remain focused on supporting organisations wherever they are on their sustainability journey. In 2026, that means continuing to provide practical guidance, credible data, and solutions that help turn ambition into measurable outcomes.

Real progress happens when commitment turns into action. Together, we can make 2026 a year defined by participation, accountability, and meaningful change.

Take the first step to Net Zero! See your carbon footprint. 

Use our Carbon Calculator to estimate your footprint, earn the NCZ Blue Award, and get our Marketing Guide to celebrate your progress.

Measure it. Showcase it. Make an impact.

Unlock your free Carbon Calculator HERE.

Did you know? Oceans are one of Earth’s biggest natural carbon “fixers”, absorbing around 30% of all CO₂ emissions.

Not only do they help keep our planet’s climate stable, but oceans also produce about 50% of the oxygen we breathe, making them vital for life on Earth.

Why it matters: Protecting marine ecosystems isn’t just about saving wildlife, it’s about supporting the natural systems that remove carbon and sustain life.

Start the New Year with Smarter Choices: Rethink Your Consumption

The New Year often comes with the urge to start fresh, new gadgets, new clothes, new everything. But starting fresh doesn’t always mean buying new. In fact, the choices we make now can set the tone for a more sustainable year ahead.

Sustainability starts with a simple question: Do I really need this? Every item we buy carries a carbon footprint from making it to getting rid of it.

Before you make that purchase, ask yourself:

• Can it be repaired or reused?
• Can you borrow instead of buy?
• Can you choose second-hand or less packaging?

These small steps might seem tiny, but when lots of people do them, they add up fast. Every thoughtful choice is a real step toward a Net Zero future and it’s something anyone can start doing today.

Spotlight on NCZ Tools: Smarter Workflows for Our Team

Introducing NCZ Tools…

NCZ Tools is our internal suite of specialist AI services designed to help the NCZ team work faster, reduce manual effort, and deliver clearer, more reliable carbon insights to customers.

As more organisations rely on NCZ to measure, certify, and reduce their carbon emissions, the volume, diversity, and complexity of real-world sustainability data continues to grow. To meet that challenge, NCZ launched a dedicated AI department in September, led by Court Ash-Dale, with a clear mandate: automate where possible, protect data at all times, and build systems that scale responsibly alongside our customers.

NCZ Tools provides a secure, highly customisable environment where specialist automation supports research, reporting, and internal workflows in the background. Data from multiple sources is enriched, cross-checked, and kept current without constant manual intervention, reducing delays, improving consistency, and strengthening audit confidence across every engagement.

The impact is already tangible. Customers benefit from faster turnaround times, fewer errors, and a more proactive service experience, while the NCZ team can focus less on administration and more on helping organisations understand their footprint, identify meaningful reductions, and make informed decisions with confidence. By closing the gap between people and data, NCZ Tools supports clearer insight and better outcomes at scale.

Looking ahead, NCZ is continuing to expand these capabilities. Throughout 2026, we will begin introducing complementary tools within the customer portal, designed to make it easier for organisations to input, manage, and validate their own activity data directly from across their business. These tools will support more efficient data collection, clearer internal ownership, and stronger alignment with recognised standards, helping ensure carbon reports are as accurate, robust, and representative as possible.

Together, these developments reflect a simple long-term goal… to make working with carbon data feel intuitive, efficient, and dependable, both for our internal teams and for the organisations we support as NCZ continues to scale in 2026 and beyond.

🗓️Facilities Management Forum | 26–27 January | London

Where FM pros meet, swap ideas, and dive into smarter, greener, more efficient ways to run buildings, full of practical insights, chats, and networking.

🗓️Considerate Constructors Scheme – Partners Day | 29 January | London

Bringing construction partners together to swap insights and push better standards for people, communities, and sustainability.

🗓️MSC Strategy Day | 6 Feb | London

Industry leaders and thinkers come together in London to explore big-picture trends, strategy, and fresh ideas. Expect connections, insight sharing, and good convos to spark what’s next.

🗓️Redditch United ESG Event | 13 Feb | Redditch

A community meetup where fans, partners, and local changemakers chat ESG from sustainability to social impact. Good vibes, great convos, and ideas to make a positive difference.

🗓️Manchester Cleaning Show | 18–19 Feb | Manchester

The North’s biggest cleaning and hygiene trade event, packed with product demos, expert talks, and networking with people shaping the future of the industry. Discover new tech, fresh ideas, and plenty of inspo for facilities management.

🗓️EstatesVision 2026: The Health Estates Conference | 24 February 2026 | London

The future of real estate is being redefined. Big challenges demand bold thinking. EstatesVision 2026 is the gathering place for leaders shaping resilient, sustainable estates and equipping NHS teams to deliver real, measurable improvements.

We’re excited to feature Krys Stanton, Chief Operating Officer at NCZ Group as one of our conference speakers, sharing insights on driving sustainable, impact-led estate strategies.

Thank you for starting the year with us and being part of our January update as we focus on turning Net Zero goals into meaningful action. If you or your suppliers 

would like to better understand your carbon footprint, you can still access our FREE Carbon Calculator here…

If you’d like to explore your carbon footprint in more detail, feel free to reach out at gozero@neutralcarbonzone.com, we’re always happy to help.

By working together, you’re supporting not only the environment but the long-term sustainability of your business, and our team is here to make the journey as straightforward as possible.