How can businesses reduce their Carbon Footprint?

With climate change at the forefront of people’s minds, many businesses want to do everything they can to reduce their carbon footprint.

Here are some of the ways in which a business can reduce its carbon emissions:

• Reduce, reuse & recycle:
  • Encourage your workforce to limit the amount of waste they are throwing away
  • Send emails instead of letters. This reduces the use of paper as well as the carbon produced from delivering the mail.
  • Limit the amount of paper being printed where possible – using a document storage system can help
  • Set printers to print double-sided
  • Have separate bins for general waste and recycling and implement recycling collection wherever possible
  • Recycle toners and print cartridges
  • Provide reusable cups and glasses for people rather than use disposable ones
  • Re-use any packaging or boxes that come into your business
  • Use recycled products, such as paper, where possible
• Reduce your travelling:
  • Switch to online meetings and events – these have been used extensively during the lockdowns. By keeping these in place you can significantly cut down on road and air travel.
  • Allow your staff to work from home wherever possible to reduce the need for commuting
  • Use public transport or car share for business meetings
  • Switch to hybrid or fully electric company cars – there are some great tax incentives in place for Limited Companies purchasing electric cars
• Use greener energy and office equipment:
  • Install solar panels to power your business
  • Use LED lighting and turn off the lights when you leave the room
  • Use motion sensors and dimmable lights to reduce the need for unnecessary lighting
  • Purchase kitchen equipment that has high energy ratings
  • Use energy-saving modes an all PC’s
• Minimise the use of single-use plastic:
  • Implement alternative packaging for your products wherever possible
• Plant trees:
  • If your work premises has the space, then planting trees or wildflowers is a great way to offset your carbon emissions.
  • Creating an outdoor space that your employees can enjoy is also a great way to boost your staff’s well-being.