5 Ways Companies and Organizations can Fight Climate Change

The threat of global warming and climate change has been rising throughout the decades, and nowadays, the world is facing a dire situation. Either we change our ways and focus our efforts on sustainability and clean energy, or we risk dealing irreversible damage to the only home we have. However, the civil and governmental sectors cannot turn the tides on their own. Now is the time for the private sector to step up and adopt new policies for long-term conservation and the preservation of the natural world. Sustainability is the keyword here, and it should find its way into the business models of the future if we are to reverse the damage and create a world worth living in for the generations to come.

Luckily, there are many ways companies can aid the cause, ranging from adopting the right technologies all the way to implementing sustainable practices and making their entire supply chains more sustainable overall. Today, we are putting all of this into perspective and detailing the five ways companies and organizations can fight climate change over the long term. 

Run a thorough energy and carbon emission audit

First things first, you can’t plan a long-term strategy involving conservation, preservation, and sustainability if you don’t know the impact your company is making on the environment and the world in general. This is why you need to first measure and analyze your greenhouse gas emissions, your overall energy consumption, but also take a look at your existing conservation policies like recycling, reusing, and repurposing. While you’re at it, analyze how much water your business is consuming on a daily, monthly, and annual basis.

What you might find is that a small business consisting of just a few employees can rack up quite an energy bill at the end of the year, and that you could be wasting vast amounts of water without even realizing it. Furthermore, you might find out that your corporate fleet is producing large amounts of CO2, or that the fact that the majority of your employees are driving to work is leaving a negative impact on the environment.

Once you have this data in your hands, you can start forming a sustainability council and a professional team that will tackle these issues, organize projects and tasks, and guide sustainability transformation forward. This will also help you comply with the governing rules and regulations, and even take advantage of government incentives for companies that invest in sustainability. 

Make a long-term plan for energy conservation

Businesses are generally demanding in terms of energy requirements, and whether you’re running a small company or an established enterprise, chances are that you are already wasting huge amounts of energy. Needless to say, this is not the ideal way to run an efficient operation or to cut costs over the long term, nor is it the way to lead a sustainable business of the future.

One of the foundational pillars of your sustainability strategy should be to reduce the overall energy expenditure in every department, office, and facility you own. Keep in mind that small changes to the way you consume energy can make all the difference in the long run, so be sure to:

• Invest in LED lights to reduce overall energy expenditure.

• Upgrade to more energy-efficient appliances in your offices.

• Install programmable lighting and motion-sensor lighting.

• Install smart thermostat to control the HVAC usage.

• Ensure regular HVAC maintenance and upgrade to a more contemporary model.

• Invest in passive conservation such as double-glazed windows and insulation to prevent heat loss.

• Make sure that all devices are turned off when not in use and that they are unplugged from the electrical sockets.

Focus on digital transformation

Technology is the way of the future, and it very well may be the solution for the current ailments the environment is facing. Only by making our internal processes more sustainable and less wasteful over the long term can we hope to minimize expenditure and support sustainability while improving productivity and output. One of the key technologies should consider introducing into your organization is VoIP, a cloud-based phone system.

In the new normal, improving communication among remote teams is essential for survival, but so is choosing tech solutions that allow you to minimize waste. Along with advanced features, you should also look for providers that have their own sustainability initiatives and are supporting important causes.

Reduce the amount of waste you’re generating

Every company is producing waste in many ways. Whether your employees are using plastic products or if you’re not recycling, there is no denying that you need to cut needless waste accumulation if you are to create a more eco-conscious business. Keep in mind that this will go a long way in crafting a winning employer brand, because the modern job-seeker needs and wants to work for a brand that supports the environmental cause.

With that in mind, it’s time to institute strict recycling, reusing, and repurposing policies to minimize waste production. Repurposing and recycling are especially important for electronic waste. As we often switch to new and better models of our gadgets, it is vital to properly dispose of the old ones. You also need to switch from plastic products in your company to using organic, compostable, and reusable materials. After all, digital transformation and technology can only take you so far, as the human factor and how your employees are consuming various products can make all the difference. 

In order to reduce the amount of waste and prevent it from building up, companies can also use commercial shredders. These machines can destroy any documents, papers, or plastic which is no longer needed. Not only will you keep your office clean and organized, but you will also be helping the environment by properly disposing of unnecessary things. 

Make your entire supply chain more sustainable

Last but not least, it’s not enough just for your company to become a more sustainable business – you need to make sure that your entire supply chain is sustainable in order to truly make a difference. Keep in mind that in order to build social proof for your brand, you need to surround yourself with partners and vendors that support the same causes and share your values.

With that in mind, be sure to analyze the companies you work with. Check their processes and how they address environmentalism, and make sure that their processes are sustainable, eco-conscious, and that there is no sight of worker exploitation.

Wrapping up

Climate change is one of the biggest problems the world is facing today, and now is the time for the business sector to enter the fight against global warming. Following these tips will allow you to transition seamlessly towards long-term sustainability, all the while making your internal processes more efficient and effective in the new normal.