- Transport and mobility
- Energy consumption in production/industry
Energy consumption in agriculture is also recorded in this sector. So it can fundamentally be said that every company causes emissions through energy use, but at the same time every company also has the potential to take savings measures in this sector.
The same applies to the waste management sector. This includes both wastewater and general waste that ends up in landfills.
10 measures to avoid and reduce emissions in your company
Now let's look at concrete measures that can be implemented in any company:
1. Calculate the company's carbon footprint and identify emission sources
Being aware of your own company's emissions consumption and emission sources is the first step to successfully implementing measures. So-called CO2 calculators can be used here. A voluntary sustainability report, or the ESG report which is already mandatory in many areas, also offer companies opportunities to implement targeted emission reductions.
You can find more information on calculating a company's carbon footprint here.
2. Minimise energy consumption in the company
Technical devices in standby mode also consume electricity. Power strips with toggle switches can lead to lower electricity consumption here. Heat regulation also offers savings potential. Using heaters and air conditioners responsibly and switching them on and off as needed is the first step towards an environmentally conscious approach to energy.
3. Use renewable energy sources
When choosing an energy provider for the company (and also privately), the focus should be on selecting the highest possible share of green electricity (hydropower, wind power, etc.). This way, larger amounts of sustainable electricity are fed into the energy mix, and the collective consumption of oil and gas for energy generation is reduced.
Furthermore, companies can use vacant roof spaces to generate part of their energy themselves with the help of so-called photovoltaic systems and use the sun as an energy supplier.
4. Promote mobility through public transport
Employees' commutes to work, as well as business trips, play a major role in reducing emissions caused by the company. Offering employees the option to travel by public transport by providing public transport tickets through the company supports low-emission commuting. Furthermore, carpools can be organised if the company is hardly or poorly accessible by public transport.
Even for business trips, the train is often the most energy- and time-efficient solution. Emissions are lower, and the time on the train can, unlike when driving, be used for other purposes.
5. Optimise the waste system
Waste generation can already be considered in production planning and avoided as far as possible.
And in everyday office life, avoiding waste is also easy. Single-use glass and plastic cause high emissions in their production and incineration. Introducing reusable systems is effective here. With reusable glass containers, tons of plastic waste can be saved, for example when picking up lunch from a restaurant.
Where waste does occur, waste systems are needed for the separate collection of waste products to simplify the recycling process.
What goes in which bin varies from (federal) state to (federal) state. Recycling apps such as 'RecycleMich' and 'Digi-Cycle' are helpful here to make sure you hit the right bin.
6. Focus on sustainable infrastructure
When purchasing new equipment such as laptops, PCs or work mobile phones, new resources do not necessarily have to be consumed. Many providers sell so-called 'refurbished' devices, used devices that have been brought back up to the latest standard. And even when something breaks, the product should be repaired if possible rather than directly replaced with a new one.
7. Consider ESG factors in the supply chain and choose green suppliers
A company can avoid Scope 3 emissions in the value chain by setting clear regulations on compliance with social, structural and ecological standards, on the basis of which partners in the upstream and downstream supply chain are selected.
8. Promote employee awareness and knowledge
Often, awareness and/or competencies are lacking within the company to successfully implement climate protection measures or to initiate a sustainable transformation in the company. Further training of employees in the area of climate protection forms the foundation here for a successful transition to a sustainable way of working.
The Glacier Climate Academy offers climate protection training from the basics to industry-specific expert knowledge.
9. Support more climate-conscious ways of working
To avoid business trips, meetings can be held via online meeting tools where possible. Emissions from commuting employees' travel to and from work can also be reduced by offering the option to work from home.
10. Promote climate-conscious nutrition in the company
Vegetarian/vegan days in the canteen, an expanded vegan/vegetarian offering, or for example the regulation that only vegetarian meals are paid for by the company, promote climate-conscious nutrition in the company. Furthermore, indicating the CO2 emissions of food leads to more sustainable nutrition, as a study from Germany shows.
In summary, this means...
...measures can be taken in every company to drive forward and successfully master the net-zero transformation. Every company is a climate company, and every job is a climate job. Taking measures for corporate climate protection is additional effort, with great added value. To achieve the climate goal of the Paris Climate Agreement, effective measures are needed that are implemented in companies and contribute to a climate-friendly economy.