Knowing how to offset your company’s carbon footprint is a key step in making decisions that help your company be environmentally friendly and reach a net-zero emissions level.
The public is becoming more demanding, and the percentage of people who consider environmental factors when choosing which companies to buy from or hire is growing. This is especially true among younger generations, who are a small part of the present customer base but the majority of your company’s future clients.
At VALL, we understand sustainability as a value proposition. That’s why we manufacture sustainable relocatable buildings that help companies reduce their carbon footprint.
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What is carbon footprint offsetting for businesses?
Carbon footprint offsetting is the process and set of actions through which companies help neutralise their carbon footprint by offsetting emissions from those processes that are difficult to decarbonise.
Reducing carbon footprint and offsetting emissions: the perfect combination for a more sustainable company.
Offsetting your company’s carbon footprint is as important as taking actions to reduce emissions directly. Both have the same goal: to be a more sustainable company and move towards becoming a net-zero carbon business.
Actions like promoting a paperless culture in the office, investing in sustainable mobility, and reducing energy consumption are important. Reducing your company’s carbon footprint with the help of relocatable buildings is an option that may interest you.
But sometimes it’s not enough, as in the calculation of company emissions, the balance is still negative. This happens when the processes that cannot be decarbonised at present are significant. It also occurs when, during the transition to decarbonisation, there is a desire to be an environmentally responsible company and work towards a world with fewer CO2 emissions.
That’s when actions must be taken to offset the company’s carbon footprint in order to reach a net-zero emissions level. This includes taking measures or investing in projects that allow for the offsetting of greenhouse gas emissions that the company cannot yet reduce.
Choosing sustainable suppliers.
Having sustainable suppliers for your company helps reduce its carbon footprint. The greater the reduction, the less need there is for offsetting.
Internally and externally promoting eco-logistics, choosing industrial tents with excellent energy efficiency, and considering environmental factors when selecting suppliers are possibilities to keep in mind.
Prioritising subcontracting companies that offer more sustainable solutions and have a lower carbon footprint or choosing sustainable transport companies for business trips are easy actions to apply that help companies reach a net-zero emissions level.
How to offset your company’s carbon footprint: examples, opportunities, and ideas.
Working towards a zero-emissions approach can be addressed in various ways. The good news is that many actions are perfectly compatible with one another and together contribute to a more sustainable company.
They also make it easier to show the public your progress in this area, improving the company’s image and positioning it as what it truly is: an environmentally responsible business.
Calculating and recording the company’s carbon footprint.
To reach a theoretical balance between the amount of carbon dioxide generated in business activity and the amount of CO2 offset by a funded project, the necessary calculations must first be made to determine how much each company needs to offset.
Governments in the EU and some countries outside the European Union have measures in place for carbon footprint registration for a firmer commitment and greater public transparency.
The purchase of CO2 emission credits and participation or investment in environmental projects are the main ways companies offset their emissions.
Purchasing CO2 emission credits.
Carbon credits are an international mechanism offering economic incentives for companies to contribute in a real and effective way to improving environmental quality.
There is a legal market for carbon credits where companies and governments can pay to fund projects that issue carbon credits.
In other words, your company can pay for credits from projects that help offset the company’s emissions to reach a zero balance between the emissions generated and actions taken to capture CO2 or reduce global emissions.
Investing in environmental projects to offset your company’s carbon footprint or creating your own.
These projects can take various forms, the most common being:
- Soil restoration to promote more sustainable agricultural or forestry practices.
- Reforestation of new areas on suitable land. Some municipalities, particularly in rural areas, have public land but lack the financial and human resources for reforestation. It can also be private land.
- Investing in new or existing projects that can reduce CO2 emissions in sectors with high environmental impact. Examples include projects promoting energy-saving measures or reducing emissions from large-scale production.
- Conservation of forested areas to prevent deforestation.
- Research projects on innovative agricultural practices that help achieve climate neutrality.
- Renewable energy to help mitigate one of the main causes of climate change.
- Research and implementation for the rational and efficient use of energy.
- Projects to improve organic waste treatment and reduce the generation of greenhouse gases during decomposition.
- Conservation and restoration of natural blue carbon sinks in the marine environment.
Sources:
https://www.miteco.gob.es/en/cambio-climatico/temas/registro-huella.html
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_885
