The notion of energy conservation has become integral in the modern world. Customers and employees alike now clamor for sustainable business practices in the places they work.
Widespread consciousness of the environmental issues is now prompting an increasing number of companies to consider ways to reduce their carbon footprints.
Organizations that fail to adapt to the changed realities will likely be out of business in the future.
Your business should be reducing its carbon footprint and work on ways to gradually adopt newer greener alternatives for our energy needs.
However, to implement these changes uniformly across the board, a company-wide introspection and team effort will be required.
There may be a need for a radical transformation of the processes, providers, policies, as well as investments in education around climate issues.
Our climate is in crisis. Every business must do their share to reduce their own environmental footprint.
There is no harm in making a profit from your business, provided you are conducting your operations in an environmentally friendly manner.
Steps that reduce a business’ carbon footprint are easy to follow and sustainable in the long run. A business can engage in carbon off-setting measures, like tree plantations drives, or encourage its employees and the general public to recycle.
As more companies strive to include sustainable solutions into their business strategies, there is more and more awareness around the environmental impacts of business practices.
Reducing your company’s carbon footprint score will lead to sustainability and prevent the organization from incurring penalties.
The most obvious carbon-reducing measure a business can take is to establish their operations out of smart buildings. These buildings incorporate IoT solutions and Smart Building Software to make energy conservation possible through smart solutions.
Also, smart buildings save costs in overhead, which makes this solution a win-win for businesses and the climate.
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Carbon footprint – what is it?
Carbon footprint measures the amount of greenhouse gas emissions a company produces.
It takes into consideration gases emitted due to manufacturing, such as methane and carbon dioxide, and it also encompasses factors that aren’t as easily attributable, like the energy used or carbon emitted during your team’s commute to work.
How can you reduce carbon emissions?
When a business reduces its carbon footprint, it means it’s emitting fewer greenhouse gases, which portends well for the climate, environment preservation, and efficient use of resources.
Sustainability managers have an essential role to play when it comes to reducing a business’s carbon footprint. They develop strategies that facilitate a company to responsibly reduce its carbon footprint.
Sustainability managers also oversee proper implementation of green policies, which are enacted through the legislative process.
Here are a few ways you can reduce your company’s carbon footprint:
You should purchase quality machinery
It may be costly to procure new technology for your company, but, ultimately, the investment will yield productivity gains in staff efficiency, driving up your business total output.
New machinery, especially that which is designed with environmental impacts in mind, can potentially cut down your energy costs, as these are efficient at energy usage.
However, before making a purchase, you should put in the necessary research, so that you don’t end up with equipment that violates climate legislation requirements or protocols.
Stop using single-use plastics
You should incorporate environment friendly purchasing policies, such as eliminating the use of plastic from your stores.
As a next step in your plan to eliminate plastic use, it is recommended that you eliminate all single-use plastic items from your business model, altogether.
Food waste can be decomposed and composted, but food containers cannot.
Work only with eco-friendly suppliers
Many sectors are placing an increasing focus on the role of the supply chains in terms of reducing the carbon footprint. Focusing on the supply chains ensures end-to-end sustainability.
According to a study, nearly 70% of retailers recognize the importance of working with ethical and sustainable suppliers in the retail sector.
Companies in a more transparent supply chain will favor suppliers with green credentials over those without.
Limit Inessential Travel
Air and by road transportation both contribute more than 25 percent to the overall climate pollution each year.
Massive fuel consumption is the biggest cause underlying climate change impacts. Therefore, any business strategy seeking to reduce carbon footprint should identify measures that minimize the need for fuel consumption.
These measures could include: offering employees the option to work remotely and promoting pollution-free commute options, like bicycles.
Businesses should also invest in eco-friendly projects to offset the negative environmental impacts from their business operations that cannot be readily done away with.
Some measures that can replace unnecessary travel are: holding virtual meetings, giving online training sessions, coordinating carpools among employees, and choosing fuel-efficient models for company transport.
Work smarter with energy-efficient lighting
Optimizing the lighting at your workplace to make it more aligned with your green energy ambitions is an effective way to reduce your dependence on energy consumption. Smart lighting also reduces your electricity bill.
You can consider installing LED lightbulbs and dimmable bulbs for energy-efficient lighting system.
Introduce company-wide policies against letting lights and other electric equipment on when they’re not needed. In smart buildings, the lights are equipped with sensors that control the lights.
In addition to all this, blue light contributes to certain adverse health effects, like stress. To save your building’s energy consumption and the employee’s health, you should make use of natural light as much as possible.
Minimize food waste
The production and transportation of food are energy-intensive processes. If your business has a canteen that prepares fresh meals every day, food waste can be a source of carbon.
Make sure your waste contractor is regularly collecting the food that is discarded.
Ensure that the kitchen staff and the employees are aware of the food waste issue and give them instructions on proper food disposal.
Another factor that contributes to climate change is livestock farming: Eighteen percent of the total global emissions come from livestock farming.
Your business can contribute to carbon reductions by selling only organic and vegetarian foods in the in-house café.
Reducing water consumption
Making contribution to natural resource conservation may be as simple as reusing water. Manufacturing processes need a lot of water.
High water consumption can drive up your energy costs.
Your business can put in place the following measures to ensure that the building’s water consumption remains low: use water faucets with aerators, lower the water heater’s temperature, and fix leaks. Install a wastewater heat recovery system if your business requires large quantities of hot water.
Follow the 3Rs: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle
In order for your business to become environment friendly, it should follow the three Rs: reuse, reduce, and recycle. Ask yourself, what operations, raw materials, and products can be reimagined through the 3Rs.
Final Words!
Going green and incorporating environment-friendly practices in your business isn’t as difficult as you might think. The objective of creating an eco-friendly and economically sound society can be achieved through continued investments in green solutions.
