A ‘carbon footprint’ of your business is a measurement of the total greenhouse gases your business produces. You need the same amount of minuses and pluses to get to carbon zero. On the face of it, it’s relatively simple:
- Calculate the carbon footprint of your business.
- Take steps to reduce this footprint.
- If it’s impossible to get to zero, you’ll need to buy carbon credits to offset the excess.
Either way, it will cost your business sooner or later, and if it’s sooner, act now so you can control the narrative.
Calculating your footprint
There are three types of carbon categories you burn. Those that are:
- Easy to detect, from sources you own and control, such as the direct energy you use in your business from electricity and gas, recycling office products to fuel in your vehicles, business travel and emissions from production.
- A little harder to measure, like the emissions you indirectly produce through the energy supplier you choose. For example, is the electricity you use generated by hydro or coal? In addition, you are indirectly responsible for the greenhouse gases generated at source by the businesses you buy from. This can also include how employees travel to work and how raw materials get packaged and shipped to you.
- Difficult to track, which can include the emissions from customers you sell to, the suppliers you buy from, how your waste is disposed of and the lifecycle of the equipment you use.
All this can be very tricky to measure accurately to then be able to say, ‘we are carbon zero’. For now that’s ok. It doesn’t need to be perfect. The key is to make a start on the bits you can reduce now.
First steps
Once you’ve identified all the carbon activities you want to measure, begin collecting data using a relevant metric, which could be gallons of fuel or mileage for vehicles, kWh of gas or electricity from your energy bill, or gallons of water from your water meter.
Then calculate your emissions using the relevant conversion factor or use an online tool. Once you have this footprint, use your data to identify the most suitable actions to reduce your emissions and save costs.
Set targets
Nothing tends to get done unless it’s measured and targets set. Even better if you can delegate the task to an employee to keep everyone (including you as the business owner) honest and moving forward. Be realistic. It’s unlikely you can slash emissions by 50% in a year, but 2-3% could be achievable, as long as it’s every year. Slower sustainable changes will win the race.
Other practical activities can include:
- Tree planting, reforestation, and conservation.
- Converting waste to energy.
- Investing in community energy efficient projects.
It can be tempting to ignore your emissions and either leave it for the next generation (or start planting trees), but it should be your least preferred option.
Quick wins
The best approach for you will depend on what your major emissions sources are, which you have most influence over and how much data is available to you. Some quick wins could include:
- Switch to a green or renewable energy provider. This eliminates any carbon that is produced through energy consumption in your business.
- Improve your building insulation and energy efficiency.
- Move to electric vehicles or e-bikes.
- Reduce business travel, especially by air.
- Provide incentives for employees to carpool, cycle, use public transport or walk, to work.
- Stop using disposable items like paper cups, plastic bags, and bottled water. Instead, ask employees to bring their own bottle (or supply them one for free).
- Keep printing to a minimum, move to a paper-free office, and set up recycling bins around your business.
- If practical, switch to suppliers who are committed to net zero, or if that’s too hard, use net zero as a criteria for your next new supplier.
- Consider updating your employment agreements to include eco-conditions employees must comply with.
- Review lighting, use green website hosting, switch to a renewable energy provider or install solar panels if you own your workspace.
Next steps
It can be confusing and disruptive when trying to measure and track your carbon footprint. The key is to make a start. Also, look to:
- Add carbon foot printing and net zero emissions into your business plan, so it’s official.
- Delegate the task to employees as part of their job description, so it’s baked into your business. Set a meeting to involve all staff to commit them to the process.
- Have a go at measuring your carbon footprint.
- Set a short and long term plan on managing the impact on your business in the next year, 5 and 10 years.