Local cleantech startup Greener is on a mission to refute the widespread perception that an investment in sustainability is a cost burden, albeit with an environmental benefit.

Since inception, the company’s Greener for Business online tool has delivered an average of $500 a year in annual green energy savings, with Sydney bars such as Since I Left You and Pocket Bar reporting estimated savings of more than $3160 and $963, respectively.

Other Greener partners passed on further cost reductions to users of the platform.

Cashflow is king for small business – staff wages, rent, supplies and other overheads mean business owners are often balancing the books with little wriggle room for longer term investment.

Greener’s success depends to a large extent on dispelling the notion that an investment in sustainability is unaffordable in a challenging economic environment.

“It’s the biggest myth that we’re trying to overcome,” Greener founder Tom Ferrier said.

“But the truth is in the platform when you adopt one of the available options.”

Last week, NAB, which led a $4m capital raising for Greener in 2022 through NAB Ventures, backed its investment with a partnership deal, alerting its small business customers to the benefits of the Greener for Business tool.

The lure is guidance on how to develop a climate transition plan, as well as exclusive offers from leading suppliers to help save costs on energy and waste, as well as slash emissions from packaging and logistics and other services.

Ana Marinkovic, NAB executive, business direct and small business, said climate action was everyone’s job, and as the nation’s largest bank, NAB was helping to inform its small business customers of the measures they could take to “make a difference”.

“With around one in five SMEs strongly intending to make an investment to improve the sustainability of these business over the next two years, it’s clear many are eager to cut their emissions while also reducing business costs.”

Mr Ferrier said a pilot earlier this year with more than 60 NAB small business customers had also delivered some insights into other benefits from the platform.

“For example, eight per cent switched to 100 per cent green power, six per cent adopted carbon neutral delivery services, five per cent installed solar power, and a further five per cent upgraded to LED lighting,” the Greener founder said.

“We want to get every business on to a net-zero by 2050 journey.

“If we’re able to achieve that, it will be the equivalent of taking 50 million cars off the road.”