UK Businesses Face Net Zero Confidence Gap, D-ENERGI Study Finds

New D-ENERGI research finds 78% of C-suite executives believe their company will reach net zero by 2050, compared with just 34% of entry-level workers, highlighting a major communication gap inside UK businesses.

28 September 2026 — UK businesses may be developing sustainability strategies, but many are struggling to convince employees that those plans will translate into real progress, according to new research from business energy provider D-ENERGI.

The company’s Energy Efficiency in the Workplace Report, based on a survey of 1,000 UK workers, found a sharp divide between senior leaders and employees at the start of their careers. While 78% of C-suite executives are confident their organisation will achieve net zero by 2050, only 34% of entry-level workers share that confidence.

The findings suggest that the challenge is not simply whether businesses have sustainability plans in place, but whether those plans are visible, understood and translated into action across the wider workforce.

Senior leaders are far more aware of sustainability plans

Awareness appears to be one of the clearest factors behind the confidence gap.

According to the study, half of entry-level workers are unaware of any energy-efficiency or sustainability plans within their company, compared with just 7% of C-suite executives.

That difference points to a communication problem inside organisations. Senior employees are more likely to be involved in developing targets, reviewing performance and discussing sustainability strategy, while junior workers may have little visibility of those decisions.

For businesses, this matters because net zero strategies ultimately depend on day-to-day behaviour as well as board-level commitments. Energy use, waste reduction, procurement, travel and workplace practices are often influenced by employees across every level of the organisation.

If those workers do not understand the company’s objectives or how their own role contributes to them, sustainability commitments risk remaining disconnected from operational reality.

Employees still want to play a part

Despite the lack of confidence, the research suggests employees are not disengaged from environmental issues.

Seventy percent of workers said they care about the energy they use at work, while 40% said they are already taking action to reduce waste and improve recycling. Around a third also reported trying to reduce their energy consumption in the workplace.

However, only around a quarter of workers believe their colleagues are doing enough to reduce their own carbon footprint at work.

That gap between personal intention and confidence in collective action may be important for employers. Individual employees can make small changes, but larger reductions in emissions usually require consistent systems, incentives and guidance across an entire organisation.

Mike Williamson, Business Analyst at D-ENERGI, said businesses are increasingly developing sustainability strategies, but those efforts need to reach employees more effectively.

It’s positive to see every level of a business trying to do their bit, but there is an important question that needs raising about how effectively sustainability plans are being communicated downwards, reaching the people who need to put them into practice.

He added that the opportunity for employers is to make sustainability plans more visible, understandable and relevant across the whole organisation rather than concentrating communication at senior level.

Communication may be as important as strategy

The findings highlight a broader issue for businesses working toward long-term environmental targets.

A company may have detailed net zero objectives, renewable energy contracts or efficiency initiatives, but employees can only support those plans if they know they exist and understand how they apply to their work.

D-ENERGI’s research shows a clear relationship between awareness and confidence. Senior employees, who are more likely to know what their business is doing, are also significantly more confident that those plans will succeed.

For employers, improving internal communication may therefore be one of the more immediate actions available.

That could include clearer reporting on energy use and emissions, regular sustainability updates, practical guidance for teams and stronger links between company-wide targets and everyday workplace behaviour.

Net zero targets increasingly affect business operations

The research comes as UK businesses continue to face growing pressure to address energy use, emissions and sustainability across their operations.

For many companies, net zero planning now sits alongside cost management, regulatory requirements, procurement standards and investor expectations. Energy efficiency can also have a direct financial impact, particularly during periods of volatile energy prices.

This means sustainability communication is increasingly a business issue rather than simply a corporate social responsibility exercise.

If employees understand why energy-efficiency measures are being introduced, how progress is being measured and what is expected of them, businesses may be better positioned to turn long-term targets into measurable operational change.

The reverse is also true. A strategy that is understood only by the board risks becoming difficult to implement consistently across departments, offices and individual roles.

Businesses may need a more inclusive approach to sustainability

The study suggests that organisations may need to rethink how they engage employees in environmental goals.

Rather than treating net zero as a top-down programme, employers could involve staff more directly in identifying areas where energy or resources are being wasted. Employees working closest to everyday operations may also be well placed to identify practical improvements that senior leaders do not immediately see.

Greater transparency could also help reduce scepticism.

Sharing progress, setbacks and measurable outcomes can give employees a clearer picture of whether sustainability commitments are producing meaningful results. Without that visibility, workers may struggle to distinguish between genuine operational change and high-level targets that feel distant from their daily experience.

For businesses, the issue is therefore not only whether a net zero strategy exists, but whether employees at every level can see it, understand it and participate in it.

About D-ENERGI

D-ENERGI is an Ofgem-registered business gas and electricity supplier operating in the UK. Incorporated in 2002, the company provides energy services to businesses and works with organisations on energy supply and efficiency.