Business can make a real difference

Climate change is real, and it’s man-made. That’s a fact. There’s already a 97% consensus about it among climate scientists. One thing is what you can do about it on an individual level, and what governments can do on a national level.  Business can make a real difference

Equally important is what businesses can do to fight climate change. After all, large corporations make up the majority of the GDP, they are the engines in developed societies. If they change, it will have a huge impact.

So, what can they do? Running an environmentally friendly business helps you reduce your impact on the environment and preserves natural resources. Your business can help the environment in many ways. Here are some examples:

1. Office Supplies

For example, in the U.S. alone, over four million disposable pens are thrown away every day. And that’s just pens. Your businesses can make changes by stocking the office with reusable pens – ones which simply have their inks refilled. The process of refilling makes it easier to keep track of pens, rather than losing them and simply replacing them.

For a more accurate picture of how much your business throws out, you could conduct a waste review or audit. It’s important that you’re aware of what you can recycle as well: throwing just a small amount of unrecyclable material can cause the entire portion of recycled material to become contaminated and therefore end in a landfill fate.

2. Donate to Environmental Causes
   

Many companies are in a fortunate financial position and can afford to donate to environmental causes across the world. Bank of America has donated more than $18 million to support the Nature Conservancy’s global conservation work.

3. Invest in Low-carbon Energy
   

The Global Climate Action Summit report indicates we are only beginning to see the benefits from years of investment in clean technologies. For example, a 23 per cent rise in solar power between now and 2030 – roughly half the rate at which it is growing currently – will translate to a 50 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions from electricity generation.

4. Energy

Continuing in the energy factor, more and more businesses are embracing renewable energy in a big way as they begin to feel the impacts of the climate crisis where it matters most: their bottom lines. Many are finding that there’s an awful lot of green to be made in a renewable energy-powered economy.

Power your office with alternative energy which is generated from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, geothermal, hydropower and plant matter.

As wind and solar energy achieve cost competitiveness with fossil fuels, addressing the climate crisis has become an economic imperative. Previously green energy incentives were only available to larger businesses, but now smaller businesses want in.

5. Source Goods and Services from Sustainable Suppliers
   

Green procurement is another easy way to transform your carbon footprint as a business. This not only makes your company greener but depending on where you source from can help to foster collaboration with local suppliers. This effectively means sourcing goods and services that are produced in a sustainable way. This could include goods that are non-toxic, recyclable, or that are made from renewable materials. Consider creating your own procurement policy that commits to some of your company’s ideals which might include reducing waste, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, conserving energy and water, and using renewable energy sources. See if you can create a business community based on these goals and ideals with potential suppliers.

Going green and making up for any harm that is being inflicted will help reduce our impact on the climate.

Working towards a greener environment will not only benefit you and your company for generations to come. It is a step that we need to take immediately!