How to reduce your carbon footprint as a company

By this point, everyone can agree that global warming is a very real and present danger that is not to be taken lightly (unless we are to believe certain world leaders). Reducing the carbon footprint, AKA the negative impact our activities as people have on the environment, is our top priority should we wish to stay on this planet a little while longer. This however, is not just the responsibility of the average joe, but of everyone, including companies and organisations in general.

Fuel use

The use of fossil fuels has since time immemorial been a big bad in the emission of carbon dioxide, and companies have certainly played a big role in this. Imagine the emissions from all the daily commuters that use their (company) car to get to work and back again and you can imagine what the impact is on our environment. This while there are plenty of alternatives to limit fuel use as an organisation. You could for example promote carpooling & cycle to work schemes, use more sustainable company cars and encourage your employees to use more public transportation such as buses, subway and train.

Another, somewhat more progressive, solution is to promote working from home. While this can be tough for most bosses, recent technological innovations (high-speed broadband, powerful home computers, Skype-like chatting services and virtual office software) have made it easier than ever to work from home. All it requires is that little mental push from the bosses…

Energy use

For most companies, energy use is by far the largest contributor to their CO2 emissions. With recent (and even not so recent) technological innovations, there are many ways a company can reduce their energy use such as:

• Lighting: use of energy-saving LED bulbs and making sure people switch of the lights when not using the room
• Office equipment: again, switching off equipment when not using them or using an automatic power shutdown system. The “energy saver” mode on computers is also a neat little trick to reduce your energy output.
• Heating & cooling: This one is easy. Better insulation, regular heating and cooling maintenance and investing in energy efficient heating like heat pumps and condensing boilers are a sure-fire way to save a lot of energy.

Recycling and sustainable procurement

A large portion of some organisation’s carbon footprint comes from their supply chain. While this may sound strange, remember that each good or even service bought to fuel that supply chain has a carbon emission (production, transport, use and disposal etc.).

We’ll admit, this one is not as easy as the others and goes farther than just recycling your water bottles at the end of the day. However, organisations with a (large) supply chain can overcome this by adopting sustainable procurement principles, such as purchasing eco-label products like the B-Cap’s dosing caps.

What’s in it for me?

I hear you thinking. Reducing the damage done to the environment is all fine and well, but I’ve got a business to look after. How do I justify these kinds of expenses? Effective action to reduce a carbon footprint can save an organisation a lot of money and helps save the planet. Sappy statement, we know, but not less true! E.g. energy saving procedures do not only save on light bulbs, but also on electricity to power those bulbs. Using re-useable materials in your supply chain allows you to use/buy less goods for the same output. If you employ eco-friendly measurements intelligently, the benefits of reducing your carbon footprint can far outweigh the cost.

Reducing carbon emissions, and running environmentally-focused programs is also a good way to attract new employees. For millennials entering the workforce, this is certainly a factor that matters to them.

If you want to promote companies that have a positive and respectful approach like B-Cap, share this article on your social media. Also check out our other article on how to create more value with less impact on the environment with eco-friendly packaging!