The climate crisis is an international problem affecting even those in the most remote part of the earth. While each individual has a role, governments and large-scale enterprises are responsible for most environmental impact. As such, they are in the best position to make a change. In this piece, you will learn how enterprises can reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to the war against climate change.
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Ripple Effects Of Environmentally-friendly Initiatives
Below are some actionable steps companies can take to make a difference and how these changes are beneficial.
Keeping Track of Carbon Footprint
Many companies have significantly more impact than they know, and the only way to get precise data is to track their carbon emission levels. Third-party carbon accounting firms like Greenly can help these companies get a clear picture of their environmental impact, specifically the CO2 emission. They will subsequently receive recommendations on the best practices to reduce their footprint and achieve carbon neutrality.
Focus on Waste Reduction
One of the fastest ways enterprises minimize their impact is through waste reduction. All the waste that comes from companies end up in landfills or oceans. Either way, they cause severe damage to the planet. Companies, especially those that deal with production, must look for sustainable ways to handle waste. They can do this by:
Introducing Zero-waste Protocols
Manufacturing industries are starting to follow zero-waste initiatives that eliminate waste from the source. They do this by changing the raw materials and production processes they follow in ways that will lead to significant waste reduction. It may require a complete overhaul of a company’s operations, but the result is worth it in the long run.
Ongoing Recycling
If you’ve been paying attention to environmentalists, you’ve probably heard of the importance of recycling. To recap, recycling refers to changing and reusing products that would otherwise be classified as waste. A company can recycle on a large scale and look for more uses for their products. For example, a printing press can change paper waste into toilet rolls instead of throwing it away.
Composting
An establishment that deals with organic waste can find more practical ways to handle it through composting. This process involves carefully decomposing organic waste into nutritional fertilizer for crops. Composting doesn’t just help your company reduce its impact, it also unlocks a new revenue stream if they decide to sell.
Relying on Green Energy
Another major step companies can take is to switch to clean energy instead of petroleum and other fossil fuel energy sources. Since they rely heavily on power for manufacturing and daily activities, this will be one of the most significant things they can do to mitigate environmental impact. Solar power, hydropower, and wind turbines are common types of clean energy. The initial cost of such a switch may be substantial, but they will enjoy energy rebates and save on energy bills in the long run.
Investing in More Sustainable Transportation
It is a fact that transportation is one of the most significant contributors to global warming. Companies can implement sustainable transportation practices, especially in their supply chain management. They can change the types of vehicles they use, opt for more sustainable transportation methods, and use a more efficient infrastructure for large-scale transport. For example, a transport company can opt for electric vehicles instead of traditional vehicles with fossil-powered engines. Or, another company can use electric vehicles in their official fleet instead of regular cars.
Emphasizing Sustainable Production
In a bid to produce goods and offer services to the public, many enterprises cause severe damage to our ecosystem. Things have become even worse since the beginning of industrialization. The earth is paying the price for the more mechanically advanced forms of production humans are enjoying. However, the situation is not hopeless. Companies can still implement sustainable production practices that are less environmentally harmful. While there are many ways to do this, these are the top three:
Invest in Life Cycle Assessment
The first stage of every sustainable production initiative is a life cycle assessment of your existing products. Essentially, life cycle assessment is a process of determining the environmental impact of individual products. It takes everything into account from sourcing raw materials, production, transportation and even delivery to the end users. With this assessment data, companies can look for ways to improve.
Building a Circular Economy
The principle of circular economy emphasizes a regenerative and restorative model of production that allows companies to get the most value from their raw materials. It can help your business save costs, increase production efficiency, and reduce waste and pollution. Overall, the result will be a reduction in environmental impact.
More than ever, there is a significant increase in awareness of global warming and its catastrophic effect on the planet. Consumers and other businesses are paying more attention to the environmental impact of companies they patronize. By focusing on improving their environmental impact, enterprises will not just be saving the planet but securing their place in a green future. You can learn more about sustainable business practices and enterprise carbon management in the link above.
