How can companies reduce their carbon footprint

#carbonFootprint, #AI, #recycle, #reduce, #reuse

Carbon footprint refers to the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by performing an activity, such as a bottle of water consumed in the company. Reducing the carbon footprint means fewer carbon emissions going into the atmosphere. Companies are looking at ways to reduce their carbon footprint, meaning having to change their organizational structure, radically transform certain processes, choose new providers, create new policies, and invest a lot in education. Implementing the necessary changes requires a company-wide assessment and joint efforts.

Some changes can be easily implemented, such as reducing the number of physical meetings and changing the means of travel. Encourage employees in order to carpool if they live in nearby places and make use of fuel-efficient vehicles which produce low emissions. Offer reasons to use public transportation or bikes, for example make discounts at public transportation cards or give bonuses. A company may even better implement a work from home policy or hybrid working to minimize emissions. Moreover, the three R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle) can be applied and employees could be educated to do the same. For example, minimize single use plastic by removing all single use plastic items from the business model. Make use of biodegradable or compostable materials. Purchase recycled paper or refurbished IT equipment. Take action to cut down paper usage i.e. print as minimally as possible and instead, prefer digitizing, such as avoiding printing emails, presentations etc. If printing is required, ensure double sided printing is set as a default. Food takes a significant amount of energy to produce and transport it, particularly if the business has a canteen serving fresh food daily. Therefore, minimize emissions from food and food waste ensuring that kitchen staff are all trained and aware of the issue, and providing proper facilities, for employees to dispose of any food waste they may have. It is worth looking into applications developed for food-sharing, aiming to reduce food waste. Additionally, by replacing the incandescent bulbs with eco-friendly LED bulbs, can make a big difference and is a quick win with long lasting effects. In the case of business trips, it would be better to travel less. Online meetings are an easy way to reduce your businesses carbon footprint. Nevertheless, if travelling is required, encourage workers to prefer economy class flights or better travel by train, since they are one of the most environmentally friendly modes of transportation.

AI can help make bigger changes. There are smart sensors that optimize heating/cooling and lightning of the factory/office. Smart sensors connect with the building automation system and can be programmed to reduce energy usage while maintaining a comfortable working environment. For example, when no one is in the office, factory, or restroom, when rooms are empty, such systems can turn off the lights, can cut energy consumption and take into account everyday workplace routines to find optimal activity level. They adjust the brightness of the lighting to the level of darkness in the room, i.e. if the office receives direct sunshine, using bright lighting during the noon hour is inefficient. There are applications that can be used to optimize transportation. Tools collect and analyze data about engine or tire performance deterioration, as well as driver behavior. Applications have been developed to make transportation more efficient when there are several stops, or applications about truck loading that allow you to visualize the cargo area and organize it in the most efficient way possible by using every available space.

Apart from these changes that can lessen a company’s carbon footprint, consultancy firms have been established that measure the carbon footprint derived from the business activities. These companies also create a plan to decrease it, offer support throughout the implementation process, request sustainability certifications, and provide the necessary training.

Author: Maria Spanou, CLMS

Sources

https://www.travelperk.com/guides/ways-businesses-can-reduce-carbon-footprint/

https://research.aimultiple.com/carbon-footprint-reduction/

https://www.greenelement.co.uk/blog/reduce-business-carbon-footprint/

https://supplychainmanagement.utk.edu/blog/how-can-companies-reduce-their-carbon-footprint/

https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/carbon-footprint-travel-mode

https://www.dataphoria.gr/?fbclid=IwAR19Zw-GVi4bkcLfweMJ1Mry4CZJqETgEP4UPIabA_D4oQ4ZPj6PUEmPjvI