Why the environment matters to me… Brendan Sykes

As environmental pressures intensify and sustainability standards continue to advance, businesses play a vital role in accelerating positive change. At UNTHA UK, we see this responsibility reflected not only in our technology, but in the everyday decisions made by people across our sector.

As environmental pressures intensify and sustainability standards continue to advance, businesses play a vital role in accelerating positive change. At UNTHA UK, we see this responsibility reflected not only in our technology, but in the everyday decisions made by people across our sector.

Where do you fit into the environmental sector? Tell us a little bit about your role at UNTHA UK:

I am the financial controller here at UNTHA UK, responsible for all things relating to finance. I work closely with colleagues from all of our departments to oversee efficient processes for functions spanning budgeting and forecasting to legal compliance and strategic decision making. I particularly enjoy building relationships with clients and seeing them thrive in their respective industries.

Complete the sentence: the UK is great at recycling....

…many things, but there is much more we can do. I think we could go a long way by standardising council recycling processes across the UK. This should provide the public with clearer instructions when disposing of waste, allowing everyone to engage and participate more effectively. I believe the fact that methods vary from council to council only adds to confusion and disengagement. For me, the recycling guidance where I live is different from where I work!

Which sector do you think could achieve significant environmental progress this year?

This doesn’t relate solely to one sector, but I believe the workplace recycling changes that came into effect on 31 March 2025 (in England) should bring improvements across the board. These rules should not only aid more sustainable progress for businesses, but also help individuals think about their own recycling habits at home.

What do you wish you’d known about the environment as a child?

I don’t remember being aware of the negative impact plastics had on the environment as a young child. I think equally important is to create habits that last a lifetime, moving beyond rules on how to recycle and helping children understand the impact of not doing so. I don’t claim to be an expert in education, but I think most children love to see and hear about animals, for example, so teaching our youngsters about the devastating impact plastics can have on wildlife will surely resonate with them – as long as it doesn’t traumatise them.

What’s the single biggest threat to the environment, in your opinion?

It has got to be human-induced climate change. A current issue in this space is the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) – there is a growing body of research on the environmental impact of AI. I would like to think this will be addressed as soon as possible, so the impact can be managed and controlled, as AI is surely here to stay.

Share one tip to help people be ‘greener’ at work or at home:

Make sure your old gadgets get recycled. In the UK, we are one of the largest producers of electronic waste. Don’t just chuck your old items in a cupboard and forget about them for years (we are all guilty of this). Your local authority should have a kerbside e-waste collection scheme, as well as guidance surrounding designated nearby drop-off facilities.

Tell us an environmental statistic that you think people need to know:

We don’t always think about the carbon cost behind our online habits, but we should. Studies show that an AI query can use 10–20 times more energy than a standard Google search, which is roughly the same as charging your phone for a couple of minutes. It might not seem huge in isolation, but it adds up. So the question is: do we actually need AI for every task, or will using a search engine be sufficient?

Complete the sentence: in 100 years’ time…

…the impacts of climate change will be accepted by all and not used as a political tool.