Carbon neutrality is currently a central concern for all businesses. Some have already completed their carbon footprint assessments and are looking for the most suitable solution. By committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, you simultaneously help curb climate change. Implementing a CSR policy is therefore a major challenge for all private companies.
It’s true that there are various eco-friendly actions you can quickly implement. But first and foremost, it’s essential to understand what a carbon footprint really is. Then, learn more about the importance of conducting a carbon audit within your company. Finally, find the most effective solutions for reducing carbon emissions within your organization.
Carbon footprint: definition
Nowadays, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can be measured using a carbon footprint. All direct and indirect activities carried out by a company are thus evaluated in units of carbon dioxide. By calculating its various activities, your company will automatically generate a GHG inventory. As carbon neutrality is an important objective, the Grenelle 2 law mandates a GHG inventory for:
- Companies with more than five hundred employees in France and more than two hundred and fifty employees in the overseas departments (DOM)
- Public institutions and state services with more than two hundred and fifty employees
- Some local authorities comprising more than fifty thousand inhabitants
Overconsumption of energy and raw materials is one of the main causes of climate change. Hence the initiative by companies to embrace CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). Social and environmental issues must therefore be reflected in the activities of every company. Tools exist to assist managers in certain sectors. When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts, LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is the ideal tool.
Why conduct a company carbon footprint assessment?
The carbon footprint assessment includes the greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment, employee engagement in your eco-responsible approach, and the implementation of an action plan. Since the carbon footprint assessment is relevant to the vast majority of businesses, they should integrate it into their next strategy. This will make it easier for companies to:
- Tester l’impact que produit votre activité sur votre environnement
- Adopting an eco-responsible approach that aims for both transparency and sustainability
- Reduce your energy consumption
- Enhance your image by contributing more to the green economy
A carbon footprint assessment is indeed an excellent way to identify which activities emit the most greenhouse gases. It also offers an added benefit, as it allows you to implement a genuine low-carbon policy. Opting for a reduction in the use of fossil fuels will make it easier to focus on developing eco-designed products. Don’t hesitate any longer and contact a team of experts who can advise you.
How to reduce carbon emissions in your company?
Implementing various objectives to reduce carbon emissions in your company is of paramount importance. By involving your employees in this eco-responsible approach, it will become a habit that can easily be sustained. Here are some tips that can certainly help you reduce carbon emissions within your company.
Promote renewable energies
Choosing to use renewable energy can help you stand out from the competition. A team of experts can assist you during this energy transition. This way, you can achieve significant energy savings and lower your monthly bill. Renewable energy is the first step to take to ensure the success of your CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiative. To facilitate your transition, you can choose between green electricity sourced from:
- Wind turbines
- Solar panels
- Of certain hydraulic installations
Recycling can also greatly contribute to the creation of new products. This is the case with LED lamps that come from recycling your old lamps. The efficiency of these energy-saving devices will allow you to benefit from clean energy produced in your region. In addition to that, you will get an insight into what an environmentally friendly activity really is. Switch to green energy now and let yourself be tempted by this innovative concept.
Reduce your electricity consumption
Reducing carbon emissions can save you up to 70% on lighting. If you feel like it, you can also opt for home automation. This technique mainly involves controlling your electrical equipment and installations remotely. This will allow you to program them to turn on and off more easily. Low-energy light bulbs and energy-saving devices are also options you can consider when making your choice.
To reduce your electricity consumption, you can therefore:
- Activate power saving mode for all your devices (tablets, computers).
- Close the various tabs that you no longer need.
- Reduce your carbon footprint
Putting all devices that might consume electricity on standby helps to avoid waste. These small actions you take daily to reduce your energy consumption are a big step forward for respecting the environment. Your office equipment will remain highly efficient, and you’ll maintain the same level of comfort as before. Vos équipements de bureau resteront très performants et vous garderez le même confort qu’auparavant. Adopt eco-friendly habits and show your employees how to do it.
Foster partnerships with entities that share your values
The CSR approach is an initiative that all companies are currently trying to follow. Therefore, knowing how to surround oneself with the right people can greatly help a company to implement its CSR strategy and follow it to the letter. By getting involved in CSR, you can easily attract partners and collaborators who share the same values as you. The decisions you make to reduce carbon emissions will have a growing impact on creating a better world.
Most companies have had to implement a carbon offsetting action. This allowed them to easily succeed in their energy transition and move to carbon neutrality. Therefore, you will be able to:
- You invest in reforestation or tree planting to offset carbon and oxygen emissions into the air.
- Gradually achieve your carbon neutrality goal by choosing to include insetting in your business.
The concept of insetting is very innovative, allowing you to assess, reduce and offset the climate and environmental footprint by proposing projects with a socio-environmental impact. Give your company a new era by focusing on reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.
Optimize the eco-responsible production process
The process of improving eco-friendly products and services will require considerable time and effort. These efforts that you will constantly make to reduce your carbon footprint must take into account the main benefits of having carbon neutrality. This ecological transition will contribute to creating a better world, but also to preserving it.
This long-term, eco-responsible production strategy can pay off big time. Therefore, many partnership opportunities may be available to you since you will be defending the same causes. To thoroughly examine and optimize this process as much as possible, tools such as artificial intelligence and robotics will be at your service. Furthermore, you will then move towards more economical and significantly more efficient modules.