Anheuser Busch Brewery Brew House and Boiler House. Photograph ca. 1880s.
Times are changing. The world is waking up to the fact it must act now to protect the planet for future generations – a fact symbolised by the Paris Agreement in December. In that deal 195 countries adopted a binding agreement in which they pledged to get a grip on emissions and avoid ‘dangerous climate change’.
While governments might be making the headline deals on the climate, it’ll be big businesses that needs to help deliver the changes needed in practice. These are the organisations that operate across national borders who, in one fell swoop, can implement a new working practises to slash energy use.
Where should these big businesses start? Here are some ideas that can make a big difference…
Printing
The dream of a paperless office is just not practical in many industries or sectors but that doesn’t mean that nothing can be done. Businesses have long used recycled paper where possible but developments in the technology that underpins commercial printers can also help them make a switch to a more environmentally-friendly ink. Landa Nanography, for example, uses a water-based ink that allows for quality printing in a way that is kinder to the planet.
Recycling
Recycling has, in many cases, been something that businesses and individuals have done out of a sense of moral duty. The amount of waste that has been recycled has risen but the picture has been sporadic. Germany, for example, recycles 65% of its waste, while Turkey – not that far away geographically – is bottom of the pile in the OECD on just 1%. Businesses need to establish clear goals, export good ideas across all locations and work with charities and Governments to boost their recycling rates. Having a strong recycling record can be a badge of honour and make a business attractive for others to deal with, boosting its reputation as a result.
Travel
Many companies own a fleet of vehicles that head out on the roads every single day, delivering products and services to customers. Big businesses can make a pledge to switch to eco-friendly models – many of which are cheaper to tax – to cut emissions. On the scale of a large business, it’s also possible to set up car sharing/travel pool arrangements among employees to cut down on the amount of vehicles travelling to your workplaces every day. This sort of scheme can also help boost morale, giving staff someone to share their morning commute with.
Lighting
On March 19 famous landmarks and builds across the world were plunged into darkness for ‘Earth Hour’. The annual event, organised by the WWF, aims to get people to join in and show they care about cutting energy use. It’s a powerful statement that will resonate with many businesses, who really ought to think about their lighting. The days of an office, shop or warehouse being lit up unnecessarily when no-one is in the building should now be over. Firms can switch all of their bulbs and lighting to energy efficient models and use motion sensors and timers to cut out lighting waste on a massive scale. Not only should this cut the amount of energy used, but it should also be more efficient from a cost perspective too.
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