How can companies reduce their CO2 emissions?
Companies are entering an era in which environmental responsibility is becoming an integral part of their strategy. One of the main aspects of this green transformation is reducing carbon emissions by lowering the carbon footprint. Employees need to be aware that even small, everyday work habits have an impact on the global climate change challenge.
In our article, we’ll look at practical steps toward sustainable business that companies can take to reduce their carbon footprint. Let’s discover together what simple changes in the workplace can help protect the planet. The green solutions recommended by Plan Be Eco can contribute to real reductions in your carbon footprint.
So, what can you do to achieve rapid zero greenhouse gas emissions? Check it out for yourself!
Table of content
1. How to reduce a company's carbon footprint
Let’s start by saying that every company needs to set carbon reduction targets. Setting specific numbers and dates will help focus efforts and monitor progress. It will also give a measurable benchmark and allow you to plan a timeline and budget for taking reduction actions throughout the supply chain. Keep in mind that this is a long-term process, and you can’t expect spectacular reductions in your carbon footprint after the first year.
2. Reduce energy consumption, and move to green servers
Companies can significantly reduce their carbon footprint by reducing energy consumption and switching suppliers. Switching to green servers, cloud computing, and purchasing energy from renewable energy sources can be a key step. In Poland, where the energy mix is largely based on fossil sources, such a step is particularly important. In 2022, 79% of Poland’s energy came from fossil sources.
The energy crisis motivates savings. If possible, think about installing photovoltaic panels to generate electricity (green energy) for your use. How else can you reduce your company’s electricity consumption?
Reduce air conditioning/heating
Uncontrolled leaving air conditioning or heating units on in an empty office generates unnecessary energy consumption, contributing to higher greenhouse gas emissions. For greater efficiency, you can also use automation systems that adjust room temperatures according to actual demand, such as through the use of motion sensors.
Turning off unused equipment
Appliances in standby mode, where the indicator light is on, consume from 0.5 to as much as 35 watts per day, costing up to $90/household per year. In the office, by increasing the number of such equipment, the intake can be even higher, and such consumed electricity is like throwing money down the drain.
Think about using energy-efficient appliances. Reduced electricity consumption practically always equals a reduction in the company’s carbon footprint, as well as real savings left in the company’s coffers.
3. Regulation of business travel
Implementing strict regulations on business travel is one of the key steps in reducing a company’s carbon footprint. Instead of traveling by air or car, a company can hold meetings or attend conferences online. This not only has a positive impact on the environment but also saves on travel costs. In recent years, we have seen that it is possible to reduce travel to a minimum.
4. Sustainable suppliers
By choosing sustainable suppliers, a company can influence the entire supply chain to reduce its environmental impact. Moreover, with conscious suppliers, it is easier to obtain information about their greenhouse gas emissions, which also make up our company’s emissions.
Local vegan diet
Do you use catering? Or do you have your cafeteria/canteen? Opt for a vegan diet made from local products. Switching to a plant-based diet can reduce your meal’s carbon footprint by up to 73%.
5. Waste elimination
Reducing the amount of waste used in manufacturing processes, but also typical household waste, is another way to reduce an organization’s carbon footprint.
Segregating waste properly
By segregating waste and diverting it for recycling, the company reduces the amount of waste going to landfills. Landfills generate greenhouse gas emissions, such as methane, which can be reduced by reducing the amount of waste. By recycling, the company can save energy and also reduce the need to extract new raw materials.
Recycled packaging
If your company ships a lot, we suggest using packaging from shipments received earlier – their second circulation is welcome, also if you sell your products. There’s no need to brand cardboard boxes or tape with your company’s logo – make a marketing case for it, especially since customers expect sustainable practices from companies.
If for some reason you’re betting on new packaging, invest in biodegradable ones (check the Polish start-up Znika).
Giving up disposable plastic
That disposable dishes or cutlery are passe is one thing. This year, the Single-Use Plastic Directive came into effect that outright bans the sale of items made from single-use plastic (e.g. straws, stirrers, cups, cutlery, plates, Styrofoam take-out food packaging, balloon sticks). To reduce plastic, put filtered pitchers in your corporate kitchen or invest in a device that filters tap water, take take-out food in its container, and treat guests to water in a glass carafe.
6. Save water
Speaking of water… The water footprint is just as serious a problem for the climate as the carbon footprint. Did you know that it takes as much as 2700 liters of water to produce one cotton shirt? You’ll save water not only by taking a shower instead of a bath or watering your company’s plants with rainwater collected on your windowsill. You’ll also do it by forgoing corporate T-shirts or using a second circuit to obtain garments with an embroidery or printing order.
7. Resignation of gadgets
In general, giving up corporate gadgets can help protect the environment. Think, do you need them? Why not allocate the budget to inclusive CSR activities or bonuses for employees? The same goes for conference gadgets and booth equipment at trade shows. Don’t try to get attendees’ attention with gifts – try to do it with a good business offer.
At the Women in Tech Summit 2022 Perspectives event, where Plan Be Eco counted the event’s carbon footprint, organizers saved 30 tons of CO2e by not producing welcome packs or flyers. They limited themselves only to lanyards and participant badges.
Find out how else the organizers reduced the event’s carbon footprint.
8. Minimize purchases and choose second circulation
Second-hand equipment
Who said there must be only new stuff in the office? Bet on the second circulation! With the help of friends or local initiatives, neighborhood groups can equip the office almost completely. Dishes? Office supplies? Furniture? Equipment? Decorations? Think about how many greenhouse gas emissions you will avoid and how much money you will save.
Buy equipment only when it’s necessary
A similar rule applies to electronic equipment – computers, phones, and accessories. Buy new really when necessary. Instead of replacing broken equipment with new ones, try to fix it! According to the right-to-repair rule in effect from 2021, consider repairing and replacing parts, as the manufacturer must provide access to spare parts for ten years after the device is discontinued.
You can also partner with refurbishment companies – renting equipment along with maintenance, repair, and refurbishment services (such as Fixit). It will be cheaper, less carbon-intensive, and extend the life cycle of the equipment within the Closed Circuit Economy. This will reduce the amount of electro-waste and, in turn, the impact of heavy metals on ecosystems.
9. Don't print when you don't need to
A simple matter – to produce each A4 sheet of paper consumes as much as 49W of energy and half a liter of water, toner production has a carbon footprint of 4.8kg of CO2e. Let’s not print things we don’t need to print. Let’s archive documents digitally whenever possible. Also, let’s use both sides of a sheet of paper – whether for printing or later notes.
10. Choose a bicycle or public transportation
Promoting the use of public transportation or low-emission vehicles when traveling (bicycles) to work, as well as encouraging employees to work remotely, contributes to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions associated with employee mobility. We report commuting in scope 3 of carbon footprint, and it is one of the categories that are the most carbon-intensive and, at the same time, the easiest to count. Keep in mind that encouraging employees is not enough, it should be followed by a whole infrastructure tailored to bike commuting – racks, security, storage, as well as showers and changing rooms.
11. Employee involvement in reducing carbon footprint
Initiating corporate sustainability strategies activities among employees raises environmental awareness among staff.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) integration activities create opportunities for employees to get directly involved in activities to ensure a sustainable future. Through small internal initiatives – organizing beach cleanups, waxwork workshops, or charity auctions of second-hand items – employees actively participate aimed at improving the environment.
Try combining team-building activities with education about the carbon footprint – plant trees together and learn how long they take to absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Spreading awareness about climate change can also be done by participating in meetings, and webinars with activists and scientists – creating a base of trusted ESG experts.
These actions not only engage employees in sustainable practices but also foster a sense of community and help develop an attitude of responsibility for the future state of our planet.
12. Implementation of ESG software that calculates carbon footprint
ESG’s software enables precise monitoring and measurement of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions related to company operations. This makes emissions management more precise and identifies areas where emissions are highest. This enables you to focus on areas where making changes can yield the greatest emissions savings.
ESG software makes it possible to track the progress of emissions reductions in real-time and also helps the company maintain compliance with regulatory requirements. It makes sense to choose just such a tool that ensures GHG Protocol compliance and has all the regulations related to non-financial reporting sewn up.
Plan Be Eco, while meeting all the requirements for carbon footprint reporting, allows you to compare yourself against other companies in the industry (benchmarks), moreover, in addition to the score, you also get dedicated reduction plans. In Plan Be Eco, companies can generate a CO2 emissions report in all 3 scopes, allowing an accurate measurement of the company’s carbon footprint. The data entry process itself is simple, automatic, and requires no specialized knowledge.
13. Digital carbon footprint reduction
Greenhouse gas emissions are generated not only by machinery or fuel combustion. It’s also sending emails, calls on teams, or activity on social media. Yes, even writing and displaying this post generates a carbon footprint – this digital one. Simply put, the digital carbon footprint is the environmental impact associated with online activity, measured as the sum of greenhouse gas emissions (expressed in CO2 equivalent). How can it be reduced?
- If possible, limit your use of video conferencing. Turning off the camera will reduce calla emissions by more than 90%! Also, consider whether current issues can’t be discussed by phone.
- Deactivate automatic video playback and reduce the number of pop-ups by using an appropriate plug-in.
- Keep your email inbox neat by eliminating SPAM and rethinking every subscription you sign up for.
- Look for information in moderation – instead of repeatedly searching for the same keyword, save interesting sites in bookmarks and use them.
- Take care of the condition of your electronic equipment so that it lasts as long as possible.
Learn more about the digital carbon footprint from this article.
14. Carbon credits - offset
Offsetting one’s carbon footprint by purchasing offset credits, or carbon credits, should be considered as a last resort in the process of pursuing sustainable business. Buying offset credits without first reducing emissions can lead to greenwashing.
The European Commission’s new regulations in ESG reporting, such as CSRD and ESRS, will tighten scrutiny of companies that are decarbonizing, requiring them to be transparent and accountable for their actual environmental impact. As such, priority should be given to reducing emissions first, and offsetting should be a last resort when other avenues have been exhausted.
When offsetting the carbon footprint, we must remember to guarantee the origin of the units we opt for. They should be certified and from verified, legal sources.
Summary
Reducing a company’s carbon footprint is a complex process but at the same time a key step toward sustainable and responsible business, as well as the fight against climate change. Companies that take these steps will not only contribute to environmental protection but can also benefit from the growing trend of environmental awareness in society.
However, the responsibility for a company’s carbon footprint cannot be shifted to the actions of employees. They are, of course, a tremendous support to the decarbonization process, but reduction in all three scopes plays a key role.
No matter what you bet on – green energy, hybridization of company-owned vehicles, giving up long-haul flights to conferences – it’s important to be aware that climate change is closely linked to sustainability, the intensity of the former depends on how you manage your company’s carbon footprint.
