Dillicious x n0de
Leading the Way to the World’s First Carbon-Neutral Pickle
n0de case study — September 2024
Meet James. With n0de, he knows his emissions, has an action plan, got finance and installed solar at his leased factory. He’s excited to keep moving and tackling emissions across his supply chain. Together with n0de, he’ll launch the world’s first carbon neutral pickle.
✅ Net Zero Ambition ✅ Emissions Baseline ✅ Action Plan ✅ Financing ✅ Solar
James Barbour and his wife had one simple goal when they founded Dillicious: to create pickles that made people smile.
But as their small business grew, they realised that sustainability wasn’t just an afterthought—it was essential to the future of their business.
Faced with growing environmental concerns, James needed a clear path forward to reduce his company's carbon footprint. That's when he connected with n0de, an organisation that specialises in helping businesses like his navigate the journey toward Net Zero emissions.
Meet James Barbour
James Barbour is a passionate small business owner who loves making pickles that bring joy to his customers. But he faces a challenge—he wants to grow his business sustainably without compromising its quality or financial health.
Facing growing environmental concerns
The Problem
Growing Environmental Impact
As Dillicious grew, so did its environmental impact. Sourcing cucumbers, managing the production process, and choosing packaging were becoming increasingly complicated.
In addition, the business used considerable energy and resources—electricity for pickling, LPG for heating water, and transportation for logistics—all contributing to the company’s carbon footprint. James knew that his business needed to change, but he didn’t know how to begin.
“We didn’t have a good idea of what we could do to be more sustainable. Running the business while trying to figure it all out seemed overwhelming.”
Understanding impact
The Guide
n0de Steps In
James was introduced to n0de, a company that helps businesses understand and reduce their carbon emissions. Recognising that James needed both a clear strategy and actionable steps, n0de jumped in as a guide, helping him chart a path towards sustainability.
n0de made the process simple by gathering just a few essential details, like Dillicious’s electricity bills, to calculate the company’s carbon emissions baseline. They combined expert knowledge with real-world data to present James with an inspiring yet practical plan: the world’s first carbon-neutral pickle.
Getting started with a practical plan
The Plan
A Practical Path to Net Zero
n0de’s plan was straightforward but transformative. They identified the biggest sources of emissions—freight transport and farming practices. While these areas were outside James’s direct control, n0de helped him focus on what he could control: switching to renewable energy, engaging staff in sustainability efforts, and optimising processes within his own production.
One of the first steps identified was to transition the Brinery (Dillicious’s production facility) to solar energy. James didn’t have the capital for outright purchase, but with n0de’s guidance, he found a leasing option that will allow him to install solar panels while saving $60 per month on energy costs.
Building momentum with action
Call to Action
Making Change
James has taken immediate action by installing solar panels (through a leasing model and with a landlord at his factory) and committing to a broader plan of engagement with staff and suppliers. n0de also helped Dillicious explore additional initiatives, such as getting a green bin from the council for organic waste and setting up financing options to cover sustainability investments.
“You know you want to do something, but you don’t know where to start. Having a partner like n0de made it easy for us to understand what we needed to do,”
Doing the right thing pays off
The Success
Results That Matter
Thanks to n0de’s guidance, James now has confidence in what he needs to do to turn Dillicious into a fully sustainable, carbon-neutral business.
James has shown that letting your customers know your ambition and sharing your progress along the way will resonate with customers.
Social media posts about Dillicious’s sustainability initiatives have become some of their most popular, showing that today’s consumers want to support purpose-driven brands.
Creating a better business
The Transformation
From Pickles to Purpose
For James, this journey is about more than reducing emissions—it’s about creating a business that reflects his values. He’s now committed to sharing his progress publicly, inspiring other small businesses to take similar steps.
By partnering with n0de, Dillicious is going to prove that even the humblest of products—like a jar of pickles—can have a powerful impact on the world.
“We want to show people that small businesses can be beautiful, that we can make pickles that make people smile and show the world what’s possible.”
Sustainability for small biz too
Conclusion
A Vision of a Sustainable Future
The partnership between Dillicious and n0de demonstrates that sustainability isn’t just for large corporations—it’s within reach for small businesses too. By focusing on practical, achievable goals, Dillicious is eager to lead the way in climate action, proving that even a pickle can be a force for good.
Interested in taking action like James?
Drop us a note and let’s chat.
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