Ways to Leverage E-Bikes to Enhance Your ESG Strategy and Reduce Scope 3 Emissions
- E Stevens
- Mar 11
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 12
Businesses that adhere to robust ESG principles lower expenses, enhance efficiency, and draw in investors, resulting in increased profitability. Considering the evidence provided below, it seems reasonable to enhance your company’s ESG standing, following the International Standards Organisation guidelines.
A Bain & Company report reveals that companies excelling in sustainability often experience significantly higher revenue growth. A 2024 study by Susen and Etter found that higher ESG performance correlates with increased employee satisfaction in S&P 500 companies. This boost in satisfaction can lead to improved productivity and, consequently, higher revenues. Furthermore, integrating ESG criteria can reduce exposure to potential risks, such as environmental sanctions, thereby safeguarding and potentially enhancing financial performance. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, reported that ESG-focused portfolios outperformed traditional investments during market downturns.
Making e-bikes to visitors and customers can provide an additional revenue stream, as a daily rate can be charged for the hire of the bikes.
How people travel to work is part of your Scope 3 business emissions. Scope 3 emissions are the hardest type of emissions to address, but putting in place an e-bike scheme is a relatively easy way to reduce your Scope 3 emissions and achieve real zero. Scope 3 is, for most companies, where the vast majority of their greenhouse gas emissions are generated and also one of the levers for change amongst suppliers and users. Reducing the Scope 3 action gap is a key aspect of meeting global climate goals.
A way to improve your ESG position and achieve real zero, is to use e-bikes as part of your ESG strategy. Companies, like Brewdog are using e-bikes, for deliveries.
How can you integrate e-bikes into your ESG strategy for the benefit of employees?
1) You can encourage employees to cycle to work by providing facilities like secure bike parking through the EEYBIKE secure e-bike pods, showers, changing rooms or even offering company-provided bikes through schemes like "cycle to work" programs.
2) Promoting a cycling culture within the workplace through challenges, events and education about cycling routes and safety also helps reduce carbon emissions, improves employee health and positively impacts your environmental footprint.
Key ways to improve your ESG ratings with e-bikes:
Employee cycling initiatives
Bike parking: Provide secure, well-maintained, secure bike parking facilities at your workplace, such as the EEZYPOD
Changing rooms and showers: Equip facilities with showers and changing rooms to accommodate cycling commuters
Cycling challenges: Organize regular cycling challenges or competitions among employees to encourage participation
Bike-sharing programme: Implement a company bike-sharing system for short trips between offices or for employees to get out at lunchtime
Workplace culture and education
Cycling awareness campaigns: Educate employees about the benefits of cycling for health and the environment.
Cycling route maps: Provide employees with maps of safe cycling routes to work
Cycling safety training: Offer workshops on bicycle safety and maintenance
Bike-friendly events: Participate in local cycling events or organize company cycling outings
Community engagement:
Support local cycling infrastructure: Advocate for improved cycling infrastructure in your community
Partner with cycling organizations: Collaborate with local cycling clubs or advocacy groups to promote cycling
Bike donation programs: Donate used bicycles to local charities or schools
Benefits of using bicycles in your ESG strategy:
Reduced carbon emissions:
Cycling significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to car commuting.
Improved employee health and wellbeing:
Regular cycling can lead to better physical and mental health among employees.
Positive brand image:
Promoting cycling can enhance your company's sustainability reputation and attract environmentally conscious employees and customers.
Traffic congestion reduction:
Encouraging cycling can help alleviate traffic congestion in urban areas.
Important considerations:
Location and infrastructure:
Assess the cycling infrastructure in your area and consider if necessary improvements are needed to encourage employee cycling.
Accessibility:
Ensure that your cycling initiatives are inclusive and accessible to all employees, regardless of ability level.
Communication and measurement:
Clearly communicate your cycling initiatives to employees and track the impact on carbon emissions and employee health.
Employees are seeking socially responsible businesses and employers, and the more your employees get cycling the lower your business emissions will be. By 2025, 75% of the global workforce will be Millennials and they’re looking for socially responsible employers. Furthermore, 93% of employees believe companies must lead with purpose and 90% of employees who work at companies with a strong sense of purpose say they’re more inspired, motivated, and loyal.
Cycling and the Environment
When considering commuting methods that are good for the environment and employee health, walking is also very beneficial. Walking is a greener and healthier option than driving – but cycling is actually greener. Electric bikes have lower emissions than cars and save 90% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Business Activities
It isn’t just a matter of encouraging employees to change how they travel to work. Businesses are adding e-bikes to their fleets to replace vehicles for shorter journeys.
In January 2022, The Guardian reported that 450 independent businesses use bikes to deliver goods. Whether using a pedal or e-bike, cyclists can navigate busy roads more easily, making them 60% faster than vans.
Employee Wellbeing
An ESG strategy goes beyond considering the environment and a business’s impact on it. Being an environmentally and socially conscious employer also requires a genuine approach to employee wellbeing, putting people at the heart of your business.
Cycle-to-work is an employee wellbeing benefit that supports and enhances financial, physical, and mental wellbeing. The benefits are both mental, financial and physical.
Physical: Cycling is an inclusive way to help employees adopt a healthier lifestyle, keep fit, and boost their immune systems, preventing illnesses like heart disease and cancer.
Mental: Not only will employees benefit from the mood-boosting endorphins that come with exercise, cycling helps to reduce stress and improve sleep. And when people feel good about themselves, they’re more engaged at work and more productive.
Financial: The cost-of-living crisis is being felt across the UK and employees are struggling to stretch their salaries far enough. With a Cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, your employees can save up to 42% in tax and NI contributions.
When employees choose a cycle over their car for their daily and local commutes, they’ll save on fuel, parking, and public transport. By making cycling easily accessible through e-bike solutions like EEZYBIKE, uptake of cycling is more likely to be achievable. Furthermore offering e-bikes gives employees a fun and exciting new experience. Cycling can be used to set team challenges and encourage team work. E-bike schemes make using an e-bike more affordable. Your company can reduce your environmental impact, incentivise staff and enhance their wellbeing.
Find out how we are working with Mid Suffolk District Council to make using e-bikes more affordable, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide a new, exciting experience:
