How Can I Reduce My Business's Carbon Footprint?

Before your company can take meaningful steps to reduce its carbon footprint, it’s important to understand the baseline of your business’s carbon emissions. There are many different paths to take in carbon reductions, but the best path is unique to your business. Analyzing your company’s footprint will give you a better idea on how to improve it.

‍1. Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

Before you can begin reducing your carbon footprint, you need to have an understanding of your company’s baseline emissions. Begin by identifying the different sources of carbon your business produces. There are three different categories your emissions can fall under:

• Scope 1: Emissions that directly result from activities owned or controlled by the reporting entity (ex. Emissions from usage of company vehicles or manufacturing processes)
• Scope 2: Indirect emissions that come from the generation of purchased energy that is consumed by the reporting entity (ex. Emissions from electricity, heating, or cooling)
• Scope 3: Emissions that occur in your business’s value chain, both upstream and downstream (ex. Transportation of goods to customers or purchased goods from suppliers)

Measure each scope emissions category through a carbon calculator or by hiring a professional carbon accountant like Aclymate. If you would like to learn more about measuring your carbon footprint, check out our other blog post. 

2. Use the Data to Set a Target

Establish a baseline and base year for your company’s emissions from your carbon calculations. Using this information, your business can set a target. Make sure your goal is clear, ambitious, and addresses the different scope emissions. There are a few different types of targets a company can choose from:

• Percentage Reduction: This commonly used target is where companies promise to reduce emissions by a certain percentage and year founded by their baseline emissions (ex. Reduce carbon emissions by 25% by 2030)
• Absolute Reduction: Similarly, companies can also choose to focus on a fixed target that is founded disregarding original emissions (ex. Reduce emissions by 100,000 tons by 2030)
• Science Base Target initiative (SBTi): Companies who seek to align their goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with climate science can choose this option. These reductions are in accordance with the Paris Agreement, an international treaty signed in 2016 to mitigate climate change.

After your company decides on a target, make sure to publicly declare your business’s intentions. This helps build credibility and reputation for your company and attract investors and customers who prioritize sustainability. It also has the power to drive innovation internally by motivating management. 

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3. Plan Reductions

There are many different ways to reduce your company’s carbon emissions. First, consider some simple and affordable ways such as reducing energy consumption, water usage, and encouraging green transportation among your employees. Next, consider scope 1 and 2 carbon reductions in your company’s functions such as streamlining utilities emissions and optimizing operations. Not only should you consider operations, but also your employee carbon emissions such as their commute to work or education on sustainability. Also consider scope 3 emissions which include company travel, event planning, and spend-based emissions. 

After considering all the ways in which your company can reduce its carbon footprint, look into investing in carbon offsets. They are a way for businesses to neutralize their emissions by supporting projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gases elsewhere. Carbon offsets can fall into three categories:

• Emission Reductions: Projects like renewable energy or methane capture help others reduce emissions.
• Nature-Based Removals: Initiatives such as forest conservation and soil improvement leverage natural processes like photosynthesis to sequester carbon.
• Artificial Removals: Cutting-edge technologies, like direct air capture and concrete mineralization, clean up carbon through engineered solutions.

Your company can make an impact by accurately calculating your carbon emissions, setting clear and ambitious targets, and actively implementing reduction strategies across your operations and supply chain. With commitment and continuous improvement, your business can reduce its carbon footprint while gaining public trust, enhancing brand reputation, and attracting customers and investors who value sustainability. Start today to make a meaningful difference for both your business and the environment.