As temperatures continue to increase globally, businesses are taking steps to minimize their carbon footprint in business operations through initiatives ranging from investing in renewable energy solutions and initiating reforestation efforts.
Energy efficient models of office equipment, programming thermostats to operate during office hours, unplugging desk equipment at nightfall and using natural light can all significantly lower carbon emissions.
1. Invest in Renewable Energy
One of the key strategies for lowering your business’s carbon footprint is investing in renewable energy sources like solar, wind, biomass and geothermal.
Renewable energy sources emit minimal greenhouse gases and do not contribute to air pollution, making them an excellent way for businesses to lower their carbon footprint and build positive associations with clients and other businesses.
Renewable energy solutions can also play a part in mitigating extreme weather events. Severe storms claim millions of lives each year and cost billions of dollars in damage, yet continue to worsen without adequate action to curb emissions.
Renewable technologies have steadily become more affordable over time, becoming more competitive with conventional fossil fuel-based power production. This trend should continue, making investing in renewable energy projects an excellent long-term investment.
Government policies such as feed-in tariffs and renewable portfolio standards can drive investments in renewable energy by creating demand for cleaner electricity. Tax credits and subsidies also make renewable projects more attractive investments, making the investments even more cost effective. Lastly, innovations in energy storage technology provide solutions for managing intermittency issues associated with some renewables sources.
2. Rethink Your Supply Chain
Your supply chain plays a huge part in your carbon footprint. Partnering with sustainable suppliers can help mitigate environmental impact; companies who adhere to environmental best practices often utilize renewable energy sources, are ISO 14001-certified, and utilize less resources in production processes than non-sustainable suppliers. Furthermore, such organizations demonstrate a deep-seated commitment to sustainability as a whole while supporting building stronger communities through their practices.
Businesses with high Scope 3 emissions should prioritize selecting sustainable and responsible suppliers as part of their value chains, whether raw materials or finished goods suppliers. Otherwise, unsustainable suppliers could potentially contribute to more emissions even though your company may be trying to decrease its own carbon footprint.
Elimination of waste is key to lowering your business’s carbon footprint, including recycling products and purchasing only what you need. Companies should also rethink product designs in order to cut back on unnecessary waste from the start.
Encourage employees to participate in practices designed to reduce your company’s carbon footprint, such as turning off lights and equipment when leaving rooms or unplugging chargers they no longer require. ESG software may also help track energy use and enhance efficiency.
3. Reduce Waste
One of the easiest ways for companies to lower their carbon footprint is to focus on eliminating waste. Going digital instead of printed documents, switching over to energy-efficient bulbs in office and making sure all office equipment is powered off properly at night are all simple ways you can help make an impactful difference – and in the long run this will lead to reduced business energy bills as well as improving public image.
While it may be easy to point fingers at big companies when it comes to climate change, we all play an essential part in mitigating carbon emissions. Individuals can lower their secondary carbon footprint by using less energy such as turning off lights when leaving a room, driving an efficient car or bike and purchasing products with reduced environmental impacts.
Businesses can reduce their carbon footprint by adopting renewable energy technologies, purchasing goods and supplies from sustainable sources, and improving office efficiency by installing window film that allows natural light into offices during summer but reflects heat back into them during winter. They should also invest in energy-efficient workplace equipment models while connecting desk equipment into power strips to simplify shutting off all technology at the end of each workday.
4. Transition to Net-Zero Carbon Emissions
As climate change intensifies, more businesses are realizing it’s imperative for them to reduce their carbon footprint in order to cut operational costs and bolster public image. Reducing energy use alone won’t do it – businesses also need to rethink supply chain management practices and invest in renewable energy solutions; additionally incorporating water-saving appliances and greywater systems can both conserve water while simultaneously decreasing emissions.
Reaching net zero emissions is one of the greatest challenges humanity has ever undertaken, requiring deep cuts in emissions across all spectrums and rapid expansion of removals (or offsets) on an unprecedented scale. When this goal has been attained, residual emissions must be offset permanently with removals such as carbon capture and storage underground.
Engaging employees at all levels is the key to meeting this goal. They must be educated on the harmful impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and empowered to take personal steps at work to lower their carbon footprints, such as implementing a workplace culture that emphasizes green practices and rewards those who strive to minimize their environmental footprint.
As is also essential in order to meet our target of 1.5deg Celsius warming, eliminating fossil fuels from global economies and speeding efforts to halt deforestation are also key. Emissions must be cut by at least four-fifths and tree cover increase twofold if we wish to keep warming below this limit.
