World Environment Day is on the 5th of June. As a result, we asked our LinkedIn followers if workplaces are doing enough for sustainability. The results showed an overwhelming opinion that workplaces are not doing enough to support a greener future.
To help aid businesses in the pursuit of a more sustainable future, we have collated five tips from the World Wildlife Funds paper on how to strive towards a sustainable future.
Renewable Energy
The first recommendation is harnessing renewable energy. The cost of green energy continues to decline, making this an ideal time to start integrating it into your business. Switching to renewable energy will not only help prevent the effects of climate change, it can also save your organisation thousands of dollars in the long run. According to the Australian Government, as of 2023, small businesses making less than $50 million could save 20% more by switching to green energy due to the new Small Business Energy Incentive scheme.
Check your suppliers' practices
It is important to examine your suppliers' environmental practices and ensure their ethics align with the betterment of our environment. Ethical Consumer Magazine rates companies' environmental standing based on their policies towards people, politics and the environment. By prioritising a greener future in all areas of your company, from production to supply, you send a message that this should be a global concern.
Recycled paper
Despite the decreasing use of paper in offices, it is still important to be vigilant about where your paper is coming from. Paper production leads to anywhere between 4 to 8 billion trees being cut down globally each year. By switching to 100% recycled paper, we can significantly reduce the amount we bury in landfills. Since landfills are a major source of increased methane levels in the atmosphere, reducing landfill waste will help lower methane emissions. Manufacturing recycled paper also requires less energy and water than producing traditional paper, making it a more energy-efficient option.
Track your carbon footprint
WWF discusses how emissions can be grouped into Scopes. Scope 1 accounts for emissions directly produced by your organisation, Scope 2 is emissions from purchased energy and Scope 3 emissions are those created indirectly by your organisation. Accounting for Scopes 1 and 2 in particular, are intrinsic to stopping climate change. You can use online calculators like Climate Care or calculate your emissions using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
Become a certified environmentally conscious organisation
Becoming certified to the international standard on Environmental Management will demonstrate your commitment as a business to a continuous effort to combat climate change by reducing your negative impacts on the environment.
By doing your part as a business to reduce the effects of climate change, we can strive towards a more sustainable future.
To see more, head to:
https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/top-20-tips-workplaces-sustainable
