Simple Practices To Reduce Carbon Footprint: A Guide For Small Businesses

As climate change continues to cause widespread disruptions in the form of extreme weather events and higher temperatures, reducing carbon emissions has become a necessity, not only for every individual but also for businesses.
In fact, both customers and employees are now expecting to have a more sustainable way of doing business, pushing organizations to look for ways in reducing their carbon emissions. Companies that fail to adopt eco-friendliness may face challenges in the future.
To ensure that you thrive in the future while doing good for the environment, here are simple practices that can help reduce your business’s carbon emissions:

1. Measure Your Carbon Impact

The first thing you need to do is to measure the carbon footprint created by your business processes and activities. Doing so can help you understand where you stand and which areas to prioritize.
There are several online tools you can use to calculate your business’s total carbon emissions. For better accuracy, you can also hire a sustainability consulting firm that helps in measuring your carbon footprint. In addition, these firms can also help in creating an effective plan to reduce your environmental impact, provide the necessary training, as well as give support during the implementation process.

2. Green Travels And Commutes

One of the most carbon-producing activities within any company is travel and commuting. And yet, they simply can’t be eliminated as you do business. That said, there are several things you can do to at least minimize the travel-related carbon emissions you create.
For one, you and other employees should consider traveling by train, bus, or other public transport to do business when possible. If you’re thinking of buying company cars or adding new fleet vehicles, consider opting for hybrid or fully electric models.
If you’re traveling far away and need hotel accommodation, consider booking green and sustainable hotels. Check certifications to help you determine the co-friendly accommodations available.
In addition, helping your employees have greener commutes every day has also become a responsibility for companies. For instance, you can offer discounted or free public transport subscriptions for your employees. If you have the budget, you can invest in bikes or electric bikes that your employees can use for free.
Or you can also eliminate or minimize daily commutes by implementing a work-from-home policy or a hybrid work schedule, if possible. Most of these incentives often have tax benefits, making them easier for your business to implement.

3. Invest In Renewables

One of the simplest and quickest ways for your company to reduce its carbon emission is switching to a renewable or green energy tariff. Most energy suppliers provide renewable energy tariffs or contracts. This means the energy your company use is matched with the amount the supplier buys from a green energy source, often sourced from hydroelectric power, solar farms, and biomass plants.
You can also invest in a green energy source for your commercial building. Commercial solar panels are the best options for businesses with enough budget. If you think your budget is lacking, most governments offer incentives and rebate programs for commercial solar panel installation to encourage business owners to switch to renewable energy sources.

4. Make Your Office More Energy-Efficient

Most offices use a lot of electricity every day. Not only can it strain your utility budget, but most offices tend to have high energy wastes that contribute to higher carbon emissions. Fortunately, there are several ways to optimize energy efficiency in your office and offset your carbon footprint.
For instance, you can switch to LED lights to reduce electricity consumption at night. During the daytime, consider turning off lights and letting natural daylight brighten the office. Also, try adding a smart thermostat to automatically adjust office temperature and improve energy efficiency as well as workplace comfort.
Look for office pantry appliances with high energy ratings. Also, enable battery-saving and energy-saving modes on all work devices, including PC, laptops, and mobile phones.

5. Reduce Waste

One of the simplest ways to offset your business’s carbon footprint is to reduce waste generated by your company. As landfills become more crowded, now’s the time to take strategic ways to reduce your waste.
If you’re packaging and shipping products, keep shipping containers and packaging small. Use reusable materials for product packaging to encourage users to repurpose the items. Documents and paperwork are also the biggest waste generated by your business. Consider transitioning to digital records to help minimize resources such as paper and ink.

Takeaway

Shifting towards running a greener and eco-friendlier business can be daunting and expensive at first. However, even the smallest changes can make a huge difference. So, make sure to follow the above tips to help you become a more sustainable company and do good for Mother Earth.