Carbon Accounting
Carbon accounting has become an important aspect of businesses attempting to reduce their carbon footprint and have more ethical values. Consumers want greener brands that they can support while still being able to sleep at night. A lot of people have refused to back brands that aren’t nowadays. We completely support this and realize that carbon accounting is crucial for brands. And no, not just so your audience will like you, so corporations are helping do their part to make the planet a better place. So, how does carbon accounting work?
Carbon accounting has become an important aspect of businesses attempting to reduce their carbon footprint and have more ethical values. Consumers want greener brands that they can support while still being able to sleep at night. A lot of people have refused to back brands that aren’t nowadays. We completely support this and realize that carbon accounting is crucial for brands. And no, not just so your audience will like you, so corporations are helping do their part to make the planet a better place. So, how does carbon accounting work?
GHG Emissions Data Measurement: will require a tool to do calculations through translating business activities and brand characteristics into emissions outputs.
Scope 1 (Direct Emissions): things that your brand burns. Fuel to heat & power buildings, vehicles, etc. These are direct emissions from combustible fuels.
Stationary sources: buildings that burn fuel
Mobile: vehicles that burn fuel or other types of powered tools
Fugitive (refrigeration): chemicals released from equipment, such as AC and refrigeration
Fugitive (fire suppression): chemicals released from fire suppression
Scope 2 (Indirect): come from purchased electricity, steam, heating or cooling.
Electricity: look at utility bill for usage in kWh.
Steam, heat and cooling: know how it’s produced from providers.
Scope 3: largest share of carbon emissions. Everything it takes to create your product. They’re indirectly generated by brands. Business travel, commutes, waste disposal, transportation, distribution, etc.
Upstream: things that it takes to make your product
Downstream: everything to consume your product
We know, this was a lot to take in. Seems like a whole lot of hoopla in order to help climate change. Good news. There are so many companies out there that are made just for this. Your brand can outsource everything in terms of carbon accounting. They use software and help you understand what it is so that you can start to make little changes that will make a BIG difference.
Earth Month 2023
The theme of this year’s Earth month is “Invest in Our Planet.” This directive is targeting everyone from individuals at home to business at the workplace. We’re going to focus on the latter for the purpose of this article. We want to participate in Earth month this year through raising awareness of ways to be greener in business practices. Here is a short list of some tips to help get you get started.
The theme of this year’s Earth month is “Invest in Our Planet.” This directive is targeting everyone from individuals at home to business at the workplace. We’re going to focus on the latter for the purpose of this article. We want to participate in Earth month this year through raising awareness of ways to be greener in business practices. Here is a short list of some tips to help get you get started.
1. Choose sustainable suppliers: these products use less energy and produce less waste. These types of suppliers are more common than they used to be so it’s not hard to find them. They may cost a little bit more but it’s worth it to do your part!
2. Use energy efficient office equipment: energy star certified is the way to go. Not only will it save you money using less energy, it will help create less CO2 emissions.
3. Video meetings over in person: it’s now possible to meet with people over zoom or some other meeting interface. There’s no reason why meetings can’t all be done this way to save the company money and save the planet
4. Offer hybrid work options: it’s no secret since the pandemic that hybrid work lowers the carbon footprint of businesses around the world. Less commuting means less vehicles on the road, which means less CO2 in the air.
5. Rethink paper: recycle office waste. Landfills are a huge part of the methane gas production that contributes to CO2 problems. If you recycle paper that means less trees are cut down and in turn, less CO2 production in the process of manufacturing it. Also, rethink if you really need to print something and take notes on a computer.
6. Give reusable merch to your employees: make brand merch that your employees can reuse, such as grocery bags and water bottles.
7. Have fun contests: do a Verdura Venerdi (That means veggie Fridays in Italian) or Meatless Mondays. Offer a prize or provide the meal yourself.
There are many benefits to increasing awareness at your business on climate change and ways to help reduce the effects through daily acts. Sustainable business is no longer the option as consumers want to support brands that take hard stances on difficult topics, such as climate change. They will only support those businesses who talk the talk and walk the walk. Will your brand be at the forefront of the green movement?