Leading companies around the globe have committed to reducing their carbon footprint as part of internal environmental policies. An effective strategy needs to consider both direct emissions and indirect sources.
Today, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions are being consider across a company’s entire value chain and can be viewed from two distinct view points. A company must actively work the emissions that are within their direct control. These emissions come from the company’s internal operations. Corporate strategies must also consider indirect emissions controlled by third parties. These may include products and services that are acquired with a large footprint.
Strategy 1: Reduce Energy Consumption – the reduction of energy and fuel consumption is a key component of a sustainable business strategy to reduce emissions. It is a long-term commitment to reduction at the source across a product’s entire life cycle.
• Reduce energy consumption within your supply chain.
• Reduce consumption within the company’s operations.
• Design products for minimal direct energy consumption.
• Consider the consumer and end-life of a product.
Strategy 2: Replace Fossil Fuels with Renewable Energy – Many companies are switching to ‘green’ energy sources to reduce there emissions. There are a number of easy ways to switch to renewable energy.
• Choose a service provider that offers renewable energy choices.
• Install solar collectors to aid energy consumption.
• Switch corporate fleet renewable hybrid or fuels.
• Work within the supply chain to reduce fossil fuel usage.
Strategy 3: Offset Emissions – For businesses with less flexibility at the source, offsetting is a concept of funding an equivalent emission reduction elsewhere. This allows any business the ability to support emission reduction.
• Offset production equipment emissions by supporting renewable energy usage by similar equipment in another area.
• Buy emission offsets for corporate travel.
• Fund renewable energy projects: energy efficiency, sequestration, or biomass.
With new legislation on the horizon, it has become critical for many companies to have a comprehensive carbon reduction strategy. Businesses must begin to understand both their direct and indirect exposure. Taiga Company offers professional consulting and small business resources to companies implementing business sustainability strategies to reduce emissions.
Filed under: Blog | Tagged: Business Sustainability, Carbon, Carbon Emission, carbon footprint, Clean Technology, Corporations, Sustainability | Leave a Comment »
