ThinkPlace’s staff carbon reduction incentives

ONE SMART, CREATIVE CARBON CUTTING MODEL

HOW GOOD WOULD IT BE to be given $4,000 with no strings attached other than to spend it on something to reduce your carbon footprint?

Such was the idea of John Body, Founding Partner of ThinkPlace, the international strategic design consultancy which designs enhancements in health, nutrition, regulation, social services and responses to climate change.

“We wanted to apply our values in our offices but we are not high energy and don’t generate significant emissions so it was a struggle considering what we could do to make a material difference,” John told Smart Energy.

“We have staff of around 160 around the world and wondered if we could adapt their behaviour in positive ways that would have more impact.”

What followed was the introduction of the ThinkPlace Carbon Reduction Fund which offers every employee $4,000 to spend on a carbon-cutting investment of their choice. “Our people are purpose driven with high values, they support causes for environmental sustainability and a better society and this program really resonated with them,” he said.

“I didn’t want to put lots of rules and procedures in place so I asked staff to use a carbon calculator and left it in their hands… staff are ethical and we trust them.”

Staff initiatives

Since the April 2022 launch, many of the staff at ThinkPlace studios in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne have installed rooftop PV, split systems or insulation while others have opted for a scooter or e-bike, even an urban farm.

Sarah Martin on her electric bike courtesy of the company’s Carbon Reduction Fund Sethu Nair now rides an electric scooter thanks to ThinkPlace’s Carbon Reduction Fund

No EVs yet, but that is only a matter of time, John said, mindful of the ACT government’s generous $15,000 interest-free loan through the Sustainable Household Scheme which combined with the company fund can be put toward an electric vehicle.

“Through this fund, we’re having a bigger impact than we could have had by just putting the money towards something sustainable in the office,” he explained.

The seed of the idea took hold several years ago when John attended an overseas conference that featured the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); the call for action by all countries to end poverty and other deprivations through strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth, while tackling climate change and working to preserve oceans and forests.

“We have since used the SDGs as a filter for all our work, all of our work should be attributed to one of the 17 goals,” said John who co-designs policy and strategy for government departments and organisations that directly inform and influence ministerial decisions, including the ATO.

A-Lab

ThinkPlace was a driving force in establishing ARENA’s A-Lab which supported starts-ups including Reposit Power that drive systemic change in the electricity sector in the transition to renewable energy.

Globally, John is a key contributor to programs tackling global health and nutrition including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s fight against global malnutrition, and was a co-design partner for the world’s largest public health initiative, Breakthrough ACTION by USAID and Johns Hopkins University which encourages people to adopt healthier behaviours including modern contraceptive methods, the use of bed nets and testing for HIV.

“Am I a trailblazer? Well I’m hoping our Carbon Reduction Fund will generate a ripple effect. I’m also hoping the government will take note,” John said.

“Due to taxation laws we effectively pay around $7,000 to give staff $4,000 in the hand; if this scheme took off among 50 or so companies then it would probably be worth lobbying government or Treasury about the incentive being regarded as a business expense.

“We would love to see scaled impact with many more companies implementing the same scheme. Meantime we are in active discussions about how to roll out across our five other global locations and devising appropriate strategies for context.” www.thinkplace.com.au