Sustainability is now a part of our daily lives in the modern world. How does that relate to companies? As both customers and employees demand a more sustainable way of doing business, an increasing number of organizations are looking into ways to lower their carbon footprint. Companies that don’t change will probably have difficulties in the future. No matter how big, how medium, or how small your company is, cutting greenhouse gas emissions should be a top priority.
However, putting the necessary changes into place calls for a company-wide evaluation and teamwork. It frequently entails making significant investments in education, selecting new suppliers, developing new policies, and drastically altering several processes.
Understand what carbon footprint is:
When assessing the environmental impact that any activity has on the environment, measuring carbon footprint has become standard practice. It speaks to the volume of carbon dioxide that particular activity contributes to atmospheric emissions. When we consider a simple bottle of water consumed in your business, for instance, the carbon footprint includes all greenhouse gas emissions created for the sourcing of the water, the manufacturing of the bottle, and its transportation, as well as all the tasks completed in the water company that is required for that bottle to be produced and sold to you.
Why do the corporate needs to reduce its carbon footprint?
Reduced carbon emissions into the atmosphere slow climate change, protect the environment and make better use of the planet’s resources. This is achieved by reducing a company’s carbon footprint.
So here are some tips using which corporates can reduce their carbon footprint.
Major your carbon footprint
To know where you stand and which areas to prioritize, start by calculating the carbon footprint your company has created as a result of its operations. Organizations can now calculate their overall greenhouse gas emissions using a variety of tools. Hiring a sustainability consultancy company is a great choice when major change is required because they will not only measure your carbon footprint but also develop a plan to reduce it, provide assistance during the implementation process, seek sustainability certifications, and offer the necessary training.
Apply the Rule of 3R, that is reduce, reuse and recycle
Every time we discuss being environmentally friendly, we must adhere to the three R’s principle. Think about how you can use this in all aspects of your company, from operations to packaging and office supplies. What can be recycled, used sparingly, or both? Most likely a lot more than you realize. Your business will likely become more environmentally friendly as a result, and it will also likely benefit financially!
Adopt renewable energy sources for your power requirements
Switching to renewable energy usage is much simpler now than it once was due to the increasing number of green energy providers on the market. If your energy company offers any renewable energy plans, ask them first. If they don’t, think about transferring to a provider who can ensure that the energy you use is generated from renewable sources.
Carbon offsetting
No matter how many environmentally friendly practices your business adopts, it will still produce some CO2 emissions as a result of its operations. To close these gaps, carbon offsets are a fantastic solution. There are many choices, ranging from corporate-wide programs tailored to each unique industry to those focused on particular business activity.
Adopt sustainable traveling
Even though travel is one of the most carbon-intensive business activities, it is still essential to how we conduct business. To lessen the carbon emissions associated with travel, we can take a variety of actions. A few of these are:
- Knowing and examining the carbon footprint you leave behind when you travel for business: Which activities produce the most emissions? Is there another option for these?
- Choosing eco-friendly hotels: There are a variety of certifications available that attest to eco-friendly lodging.
- Whenever possible, use public transportation.
- Offsetting your business travel-related carbon emissions is a great way to make your journeys carbon-neutral.
Promote green transport medium
Have you thought about how your employees’ commutes to work may affect the amount of CO2 your company emits? Supporting your employees’ greener commutes is becoming increasingly recognized as a corporate responsibility. Examples of what your business can do to promote more environmentally friendly commutes include:
- Providing free or discounted subscriptions to public transportation
- Establishing a policy for working from home
- The majority of these incentives can help businesses save money on taxes, which makes it even simpler to put into practice.
Educate your employees
To ensure that all of the analysis and planning done to make your organization more environmentally friendly succeeds, education is essential. The key to overcoming this challenge is your company’s workforce, but they must be informed. Keeping in mind that education is a continuous process, it is necessary to regularly inform and educate your staff about this subject.
