The corporate sector has taken some significant moves towards being more environmentally friendly and green during the past few years. However, that shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Yes, there is no denying that our culture is becoming more and more charitable. However, having a large carbon footprint does not always mean that one is not concerned about the environment.
A high carbon footprint is evidently caused by mismanaged operations and unnecessary energy and material costs. Thus, lessening this massive source of pollution has advantages beyond the environment. Along the process, you are also leaner and more efficient within your firm. It also lays the groundwork for you to receive some rather simple PR points. Now let’s look at some of the most efficient ways you may lower the carbon footprint of your business.
Promote a climate that is ecologically conscious and sustainable
To put it another way, you must ensure that everyone is in support of your ideas if you want them to be successful. Otherwise, your employees will disregard new policies and procedures and they will be met with silence. Therefore, provide a series of workshops and seminars for your employees so they can learn about the significance of acting in an ecologically responsible manner. More importantly, employees should understand how these actions improve both your company and their personal health. At some point, this knowledgeable staff might even take initiative and come up with creative solutions to lessen their carbon footprint.
Set the company’s systems and appliances to automatic
These things tend to consume a great deal of precious energy, even though we don’t pay much attention to them. Yes, you can attempt to readjust their performance on a constant basis, but this is a really demanding process. Even more so, considering that modern IoT-enabled devices are perfectly capable of performing this task on their own. Look at the HVAC systems, please. Adjusting the thermostat from seven to ten degrees can result in an annual energy savings of up to 10%. You can get the same outcomes with other large energy users. Thus, make the most of the automation possibilities available and allow these systems to operate at their peak efficiency.
Encourage ethical behaviour and environmentally friendly projects
These incentives can take the shape of bonuses, paid time off, or the opportunity for flexible work schedules. Either way, though, for green efforts and responsible behaviour to become more entrenched, they need to be rewarded. Furthermore keep in mind that employees work far harder on projects that they directly own. Then, consider establishing a committee headed by employees whose only goal is to lessen their carbon footprint. This committee is responsible for proposing new green initiatives and supervising their execution. You will greatly inspire your employees to take these projects more seriously in this way.
Make use of outside services
The less business-related procedures you continue to conduct internally, the lower your overall carbon footprint will be. Additionally, businesses with a high degree of specialisation in particular industries will be able to work quite effectively. They’ll use less time, effort, and money than your hurriedly assembled internal teams. For example, consider property upkeep. Certain expert handyman services will complete this task far more quickly and using environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. During this entire period, your primary company procedures remain straightforward, efficient, and extremely long-lasting.
Attend to the lights
Lighting accounts for over 17% of the total energy used in US commercial buildings, according to recent studies. Thus, this is a fantastic place to start if you want to lower the carbon footprint of your business. First, install more modern LED and CFL lighting fixtures in place of the outdated incandescent ones. The latter two choices will result in a significant 90% reduction in energy usage. Additionally, you want to set up your offices to take full use of the healthier and practically free natural light. Scheduling the shifts to coincide with the brightest hours of the day can greatly aid this attempt.
Provide opportunities for remote work and telecommuting
Similar to earlier instances discussed in this piece, there will be two advantages to this change. Naturally, we ought to begin with the environmental subjects. It is simple to transfer non-essential personnel to remote work, where they will have a greater carbon footprint, by relocating them. Simultaneously, your premises will become more sustainable and leaner. Nonetheless, the younger workforce values a healthy work-life balance above all else. Giving them the choice to work from home will increase their productivity and increase their level of satisfaction.
Reduce trash, recycle, and reuse
There are genuinely infinite ways to put these steps into action. Start small, such as requiring your staff to use reusable glasses, plates, and silverware. Try utilising digital alternatives and switching to more environmentally friendly Cloud services in place of paper papers. Provide just the minimal amount of supplies required for the best possible work performance to ensure that office supplies are not wasted. One could even consider investing in simple recycling equipment as a preventive measure. You’ll simplify material preservation and possibly create a highly profitable new source of income.
Help firms that share your values
Finally, we would like to remind you that one person can create a sustainable society. In order to truly effect change, you should back businesses that have similar carbon footprint reduction objectives. Then, make sure to contact vendors who are known for their fair-trade and sustainable business practises. These initiatives will eventually go from being stand-alone projects to being regional industry standards over time. Of course, there are also big business potential when there is a common environmental vision. Cross-marketing and joint investments are just two instances.
We hope that these few pointers provided you with a basic understanding of how to lower the carbon footprint of your business. Of course, this is only the very beginning and there are countless other possibilities available to you. However, even this scant understanding ought to point you in the correct way. And after that, everything you do will only help you get closer to your goal. Thus, get your hands dirty and begin the battle for a reduced carbon footprint immediately.
