The world is currently grappling with the effects of a climate emergency. The human impact on the environment is undeniable, and activists have warned that the damage can become irreversible if immediate measures aren’t taken. As such, individual households, companies, enterprises and institutions have started considering the steps they must take to help protect the environment.
If you’ve been thinking about adopting green measures as well, there’s some good news. The means to reduce your carbon footprint are, generally speaking, straightforward and easily achievable. You don’t have to turn your business upside down to become eco-friendly, and you can get started right away.
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Waste hierarchy
The waste hierarchy is one of the evaluation processes whose aim is to protect the environment alongside energy and resource consumption. The objective of adequate waste hierarchy practices is to improve sustainability via the means of an integrated approach.
To manage the process well, you must understand the options from least to most favored. The worst option is simple disposal. Then, in order come energy recovery, recycling, reusing, minimization and ultimately prevention, the greenest option, located at the top of the waste hierarchy pyramid.
Conducting a thorough life-cycle analysis of the impact of the raw materials you use, from extraction to manufacture and distribution to disposal can enable you to make more conscious decisions.
A life-cycle assessment also provides the means to ensure the best possible outcome specifically customized to different materials so that it can be implemented immediately. In some instances, replacing an older item is necessary. For example, older appliances are likely to be less energy-efficient compared to their newer peers.
The more efficient the application of waste hierarchy practices, the more the emission of greenhouse gasses is reduced. Pollutant levels are diminished, resources are conserved, and the development of alternative, green energy sources are stimulated.
This helps create more jobs and makes businesses and organizations more stable. Helping the environment prosper creates a chain reaction in which human-made processes are better and healthier.
Environment, health and safety
EHS is the common abbreviation for a set of rules that help protect the practical aspects of protecting the environment and health and safety in the workplace. That is the function of the system in broad terms. When taken separately, however, the question of what is EHS reveals that the system can also be used to promote quality assurance and promote stricter quality control.
From an environmental standpoint. EHS comprises all the methods employed in reducing a company’s carbon footprint. This includes managing waste, reducing emissions, staying on track with ecological regulations and resorting to greener alternatives wherever possible. Interestingly enough, you’ll notice that when you adopt measures that protect the environment, you also improve the health and safety requirements.
Management of hazardous materials becomes more efficient, and the risk of employees coming into contact with harmful substances is significantly reduced. Closer monitoring of the environment and special situations means that risks can be prevented before they can cause any damage. You might also help improve water quality and availability, a fundamental aspect of healthy conditions.
Moreover, since you can make changes even in small areas, such as replacing harsh cleaners with more sustainable, gentler options, the health risks associated with businesses that are traditionally virtually risk-free, such as corporate office rooms, are reduced.
Sustainable suppliers
Doing your part when it comes to protecting the environment includes working with suppliers that help you maintain standards high in the field of sustainability. You mustn’t work with companies and manufacturers that don’t abide by the rules and regulations put in place to protect the natural world.
When you work with suppliers that don’t even do the bare minimum to be eco-friendly, you are funding unsustainable practices. It doesn’t help to do well on one side and commit significant damage to another.
An excellent way to ascertain that a business is up to standard when it comes to environmental requirements is to look for the ISO 14001 certification. This internationally agreed standard stands for the provision to abide by an environmentally-conscious system.
Taking this step and ensuring you only work with businesses that share your ethos will help you gain the express trust of shareholders and give you a competitive market in an environment where it can be challenging to keep your head above water.
Greener choices
Investing in greener options at the office is very important. You can start with a green energy source. Solar panels are the most common, as they are easier to install and allow you to start on the path to energy independence. If you choose an external energy provider, you might get a green tariff when you choose a renewable source.
This more significant move should be followed by several smaller ones that help you reduce your energy consumption altogether, including:
1.LED lighting:
Choosing a lighting option that doesn’t deplete resources is very important. If you still use older light bulbs, you must know that they can be true energy guzzlers. There are also behaviors that you should encourage in your company, such as keeping the lights off during daylight hours unless the employees are performing tasks that require specific tasks and there’s not sufficient natural light, such as during the winter months.
2. Energy-saving modes
Use energy-saving modes on computers and other work devices.
3. Reduce the temperature:
Keeping the thermostat a little lower isn’t only healthier, but just 1°C can help reduce the energy used by a whopping 13%. You can encourage your team to respect this measure by providing your employees with adequate clothing if necessary. For instance, you can offer them thick sweaters and socks during the winter and lightweight shirts and trousers during the warmer months.
It’s not difficult to be environmentally friendly and make more conscious decisions when it comes to protecting the environment. All you need to do is think carefully before bringing in or taking out anything. If you determine that its negative impact is more substantial than its benefits, avoid it. Find ways to always choose the more sustainable option.
