How to Reduce a Company’s Carbon Footprint: Practical Strategies for Sustainability

Reducing your company’s carbon footprint is not only an expression of responsibility to the environment, but also a key step in building competitiveness in the market. By taking the right measures today, you can not only protect the planet, but also strengthen your company’s position in the face of increasing environmental pressure.

The first step in this direction is a company emissions audit. Identifying key areas for improvement and developing a detailed action plan will allow you to effectively reduce emissions. By investing in modern technologies, optimizing processes, modernizing your fleet and buildings, and choosing environmentally friendly materials, you will contribute to environmental protection and increase the efficiency of your business. Remember that every step matters!

An extremely important role in this process is played by the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy, which integrates environmental, social, and governance issues in business management. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is an important part of this strategy, which not only responds to increasing regulations, but also to the expectations of environmentally conscious customers.

In this article you will learn:

• What are climate change and greenhouse gas emissions?
• How does industry affect climate change?
• What steps should be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
• What standards and initiatives support reducing the carbon footprint?

Climate change refers to global and local changes in climate patterns. They result from both natural processes and human activities. The progression of these changes has far-reaching consequences affecting the condition of our planet, of which we can mention global warming, rising sea levels, extreme weather events, changes in ecosystems, species extinction and many others. All of these changes are interconnected, and one of the main causes of their rapid development is the emission of greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse gas emissions refer to the release of gases into the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect, the process by which the Earth’s atmosphere retains heat. These gases absorb and emit infrared radiation, which leads to a warming of the planet’s surface.

Four main greenhouse gases can be mentioned. These are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases. CO₂ emissions mainly come from industrial activities, burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), deforestation processes and respiration of organisms.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a key greenhouse gas, the concentration of which has increased significantly since the industrial revolution. Its long persistence in the atmosphere means a long-term impact on the climate.

Methane (CH₄) is formed in fuel production, animal husbandry and landfills. It is more potent than CO₂ in the short term, but occurs in smaller quantities.

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) comes mainly from agriculture and is 273 times more potent than CO₂.

Fluorinated gases are artificial, rare, but have enormous warming potential, some thousands of times stronger than CO₂.

Industrial activity, especially in sectors such as energy, metallurgy and chemicals, is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions that enter the atmosphere and exacerbate climate change. However, emissions of these gases are not the only threat to the environment.

Industry also introduces other pollutants into the atmosphere, such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and fine dust, which lead to smog and acid rain, harming human health and local ecosystems. In addition, deforestation resulting from the timber industry and industrial agriculture reduces the Earth’s ability to absorb CO₂ and releases carbon dioxide stored in biomass, exacerbating the climate crisis.

Synthetic substances such as fluorinated hydrocarbons, which persist in the atmosphere for decades, compounding the greenhouse effect, are also a particular threat.

While industry’s impact on the climate is undeniably negative, there are opportunities to reduce it. Industrial companies can take a number of steps to reduce the harmful effects of their operations on the environment.

Although greenhouse gas emissions are a serious problem there are steps that can be taken to neutralize their harmful effects on the environment. However, in order for the actions taken to make sense and be enforced consistently, it’s worth making a plan for yourself to navigate each step.

Below we suggest a 5-step plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Your company has many processes that emit CO₂ into the atmosphere to varying degrees. A thorough analysis of the greenhouse gas emissions produced by the company is the starting point for the next steps. With a detailed assessment of the carbon footprint, the most optimal reduction measures can be implemented.

Based on the assessment from the company’s carbon footprint analysis, realistic and measurable GHG reduction targets can be set. It is important to set short- and long-term actions that comply with global standards and regulations.

At Chemnovatic, it has clearly defined environmental goals and operates in accordance with the ESG strategy, which provides measurable results in caring for the environment. Learn more about our goals here.

Achieving the goals requires the participation of multiple stakeholders in the company’s operations, ranging from employees to partner organizations and suppliers. Conducting training and education campaigns among employees supports a better understanding of sustainability and ultimately leads to more effective actions. Partnering with companies and suppliers that are also committed to sustainability allows best practices to be introduced throughout the supply chain.

Investing in new technological solutions is a very important point in a plan to reduce CO₂ emissions. Using renewable energy sources or replacing the company’s fleet with one with lower CO₂ emissions are just some of the measures in the technology area that can be taken.

Monitoring progress includes regular measurement and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions to keep track of the effectiveness of activities. Environmental audits help evaluate the effectiveness of these activities and highlight areas for improvement. As part of adapting and adjusting its strategy, the company regularly updates its targets in response to changing market, regulatory and technological conditions.

At Chemnovatic, we prioritize environmental issues, which earned us the EcoVadis Silver Medal for all of 2023 and January 2024, which only proves the continuity and effectiveness of our actions for the planet. You can read more here.

Such steps ensure a comprehensive approach to managing greenhouse gas emissions, allowing the company not only to meet regulatory requirements, but also to achieve sustainability and long-term stability.

With growing environmental awareness and an emphasis on sustainability, organizations around the world need to align their operations with environmental standards to meet global challenges such as climate change, natural resource management and greenhouse gas reduction.

In this context, international standards and initiatives that support companies in responsible environmental management and fulfillment of environmental obligations play a key role. Below are the most important of these, such as the GHG Protocol, CDP, LCA, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 14064-1, which offer companies tools to report and reduce their environmental impact.

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) is a global standard for measuring, reporting and managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It was developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Its purpose is to provide companies, governments and other organizations with guidelines and tools for calculating GHG emissions.

The standard is widely used in sustainability reporting and helps companies meet climate goals and comply with environmental regulations.

CDP, or the Carbon Disclosure Project, is a nonprofit organization that enables companies, but also cities, regions and states, to report on environmental activities – greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and natural resource management. CDP collects data from thousands of organizations around the world, enabling a global assessment of environmental progress.

Reporting to CDP is based on completing questionnaires on emissions, climate risk management and environmental activities. CDP supports sustainable development by promoting environmental transparency and contributing to global efforts to combat climate change.

LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), or life cycle analysis, is a tool for assessing the environmental impact of a product, process or service at every stage of its life – from sourcing of raw materials to production, transportation, use and disposal.

LCA allows companies to identify and minimize the negative impact of their operations on the environment, supporting more sustainable decision-making. Through comprehensive life cycle analysis, organizations can better manage resources, reduce emissions and waste, contributing to carbon footprint reduction and environmental protection goals.

ISO 14001 is a widely recognized standard for environmental management. It provides a structured approach to achieving environmental goals. Adherence to this standard ensures proactive action and compliance with various types of legal standards. The framework of this standard covers various aspects, from resource use and waste management to monitoring environmental performance and engaging parties in environmental commitments.

ISO 14001:2015 is extremely important in an era of environmental requirements and growing awareness of the harmful effects of business activities on the environment. It primarily leads to a reduction in waste as well as energy consumption, while increasing the efficiency of doing business based on fulfilled legal obligations and customer trust.

If you want to learn more about certifications and audits, click here.

It is a standard for recording a company’s greenhouse gas emissions. It was developed based on GHG Protocol guidelines, so it provides a reliable basis for carbon footprint reporting.

ISO 14064-1 provides clear guidelines that guide a company through the process of quantifying and verifying CO₂ emissions. ISO 14064-1 is a key tool for companies seeking transparency in emissions management and compliance with environmental regulations, supporting sustainability and climate neutrality efforts.

Our company makes every effort to operate according to the highest environmental standards. Based on the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1, we have determined our carbon footprint. We implement an environmental management system in accordance with the requirements of ISO 14001:2015. Through life cycle analysis (LCA), we minimize our environmental impact at every stage of our operations. We report our activities to CDP, aiming for a rating that confirms our commitment to the environment. Environmental sustainability is a priority for us, and as a conscious company we want to be a model of responsibility to future generations.

Our company is fully aware of the environmental challenge, and we are constantly working to improve our environmental performance. In the coming years, we plan to implement further initiatives that will further reduce our environmental impact and contribute to sustainable development. Our goal is to continually raise our standards to be a leader in environmental responsibility.

Join the global community of companies that are taking up the challenge of fighting climate change. Take the first step today – get in touch with experts, invest in sustainability and start working toward a better future for you, your company and the planet!

As leaders in the chemical industry, we understand that the challenges of managing emissions and minimizing environmental impact are particularly complex. That’s why it’s so important to choose partners that not only meet high environmental standards, but also have a track record of successfully implementing sustainability practices. Choose a responsible partner and contact us via sales@chemnovatic.com.

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