Carbon dioxide emissions are one of the biggest threats to the health of our planet and are a prime contributor to global warming. Global warming is primarily caused by the use of fossil fuels, deforestation, and excessively farming livestock. While a warmer atmosphere may seem ideal, global warming results in more wildfires, drought, and a rising international sea level that threatens many coastal regions. Thankfully, with a united effort between businesses and households, we can combat global warming by pursuing net-zero carbon emissions.
Are you a business concerned about global warming, but unsure how to tackle it? Here are 4 practical steps to reach your net-zero carbon goal.
1. Develop A Net-Zero Strategy
Before you can change anything in your business, you’ve got to have a plan! What budget can you extend toward your net-zero carbon goal? What time frame are you working toward with your project? Are you going to prioritise making your factories more energy efficient, or the transportation of your goods?
It is sensible to calculate your embodied carbon footprint here. You’ll be able to set targets for a reduction once you’ve confirmed how much carbon you’re tackling. With the assistance of a specialist like Carbonbit, you can receive a comprehensive carbon footprint report for your company. Your assessment will include a breakdown of all emissions, including gas and electricity, business travel, water, waste, and other factors. You’ll know where to focus your efforts once you know which area of your business is producing the highest emissions!
Your net-zero strategy should:
- Focus on decreasing energy consumption.
- Include a timeline, covering the percentage of emissions that you should achieve to reduce per month.
- Feel achievable, with the potential for your business to become carbon-negative.
2. Invest In Carbon-Friendly Equipment
Reaching your net-zero carbon goal will feel impossible with old, unreliable boilers and lorries. You’d have to be prepared to plant too many trees for every journey your fleet makes, while your regular boiler is racking up your emissions even further. Newer, eco-friendly electric trucks and boilers are an expensive initial investment, but they’ll save you money in the long run. You’ll need to use less energy to run your production, and you won’t have to spend a fortune on planting trees. Thank us later!
3. Choose How To Offset Unavoidable Emissions
Planting lots of trees isn’t always practical as a small business, and you might not have the staff to complete this yourself! You can invest in renewable energy to offset your carbon footprint, or you can choose a carbon reduction project from a charity to support with any money you’ve saved on fuel. Choices aren’t as limited as planting trees, as you may have been led to believe!
4. Consider Carbon Capture and Storage
Larger businesses may benefit from carbon capture and storage, or CCS, to achieve a net-zero carbon goal. Sites of significant power generation or industrial activity are redesigned with technology to capture carbon dioxide as soon as it’s emitted. The captured carbon is then transported deep underground, into rock and geological formations. CCS differs slightly from CCUS, since CCUS stands for carbon capture, utilisation and storage. CCUS utilises some stored carbon by converting it into plastics or biofuel, while CCS leaves stored carbon safely underground. The process has been completed for upwards of forty-five years and is entirely safe. Carbon capture and storage is an excellent step toward net-zero carbon emissions for gigantic industrial factories, where total neutrality would otherwise be financially impossible.
The Conclusion
The practical steps to reach your net zero carbon goal can seem costly and complicated, but with a sensible strategy then your business won’t struggle to become more environmentally friendly. Simple decisions, such as recycled printing paper that advertises a lower carbon footprint over the cheapest option, can have a large impact on your overall emissions. Learn more about achieving net zero with Carbonbit.