How to Make Your Company Carbon-Neutral

It is important to understand how to make your company carbon-neutral, as it is within the company’s sustainable responsibility. To be carbon neutral is to be concerned with reducing greenhouse gas emissions and offsetting the emission when not possible.

The high concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere accentuates climate change. It also prevents the balanced functioning of the greenhouse effect, which regulates the Earth’s average temperature. With this, we have an overheated planet, an event better known as global warming.

Currently, the two leading greenhouse gases (GHGs) are carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). A carbon-neutral company invests in reducing gas emissions in its production cycle. Or find sustainable alternatives to offset your carbon emissions.

Investing in being carbon-neutral generates visibility and credibility in the market. In addition, it opens the door to innovation and more energy-efficient products. Face the change of being a zero carbon company and be rewarded with good opportunities for your company. When thinking about nature, you will automatically be thinking about the economic health of your company.

In this post has:

• What is being carbon-neutral?
• Impact of sustainable actions on society
• Some companies that are Carbon-Neutral
• How to make your company carbon neutral
• Get to know Redda+

What is being carbon-neutral?

Being carbon-neutral is the attempt by countries, companies, and people to emit fewer greenhouse gases. Carbon is in the name as a representative of all gases, as it is one of the most emitted, followed by methane. The neutralization of carbon emissions is a goal found to try to stop global warming.

Basically, all companies, countries, and people emit carbon. However, some of these emissions can be reduced. To achieve low emission levels, it is necessary to use calculation mechanisms to ‘materialize’ these emissions. The carbon credit does just that, neutralizes the amount emitted.

The data on how much carbon is emitted, even if not very precise, serves to invest in change. Based on this data, your company can follow paths to become a zero-carbon company. Options range from internal changes to supporting sustainable projects by NGOs and institutions to offset emissions.

The carbon footprint is one of the ways to identify how much carbon a product emits in its life cycle. As well as knowing the trail of emissions left by people on a daily basis. 

Impact of sustainable actions on society

It is worth investing in sustainable actions in society to make your company carbon-neutral. That is, supporting NGOs and external institutions that carry out socio-environmental projects. This support will add force to changes in the way the company relates to the environment and society.

Establishing interactive communication, and demonstrating a concern beyond the capital results is extremely relevant. In addition, it generates significant impacts on your company’s economy, as the market has benefited from this type of change. It is a way of showing how much the company is committed to socio-environmental well-being.

The changes range from improved working conditions for employees to an internal recycling campaign. The involvement with the community around the company also generates good results. Being sustainable is a sum of balanced decisions thinking about Nature and man, and how they can live together with quality.

The market has even certified companies with the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) seal. It is a seal that attests to the company’s commitment to the best environmental, social, and corporate practices. 

Currently, investors show great concern in allying themselves with companies with sustainable actions. Little by little, socio-environmental awareness has taken hold in all sectors. These are changes that generate positive impacts on society, as one leads to the other. It’s the famous ant work.

Some companies that are Carbon-Neutral

Companies from different sectors are moving to join sustainable actions and be carbon zero. Check out some of these Zero Carbon companies below and take inspiration on how to make your company carbon neutral as well.

Microsoft

In January 2020, Microsoft made a public announcement about its commitment to being a carbon-neutral company by 2030. The goal was quite bold, to remove more carbon from the environment than it was emitting. A year later, Microsoft released the report of the results:

• reduced carbon emissions by 6%;
• invested in the reduction of 1.3 million tons of carbon through 26 projects around the world;
• reaffirmed the goal of reducing emissions by more than half by 2030;
• continues to try to switch to using renewable energy in its facilities;
• started a Climate Innovation Fund to assist in this process of change.

Microsoft’s report on plans can be seen here.

Unilever

Unilever launched the Clean Future program. The proposal is to replace 100% of the carbon derived from fossil fuels in cleaning and laundry products. The investment in the program is around one billion euros to create strategies and products with sustainable ingredients.

The formulas of cleaning and laundry products are undergoing reformulations, as well as the packaging. The restructuring keeps renewable energy sources and recycling as a priority. It is a complex program that needs to show results by 2030.

Find out more about Unilever’s Climate Transition Action Plan here.

Apple

In 2020, Apple publicly announced its commitment to become a carbon neutral company by 2030. The project is a continuation of actions that have already been underway. Apple has already neutralized corporate issuance worldwide.

The new goal is to zero the net climate impact of all Apple devices on the market. By 2030, emissions will be reduced by 75%, and innovative solutions articulated to decrease the remaining 25% of the carbon footprint.

In 2021, Apple updated some information, stating that 175 Apple suppliers are transitioning to the use of renewable energy. The achievement avoids about 18 million tons of CO2 in the atmosphere per year. In addition, Apple has 10 new clean energy projects being applied in communities around the world.

In the last five years, Apple has reduced 40% of its carbon emissions. Check out some of Apple’s strategies toward carbon neutrality.

• low carbon product structure;
• expansion of energy efficiency;
• renewable energy;
• innovations in processes and materials;
• carbon extraction, investing in forests and natural areas.

Bosch

The German Bosch is the first industrial company to reach the goal of carbon neutrality. The goal was achieved in 2020 in all of the company’s 400 locations around the world. The work continues, and the company will invest two billion euros in energy improvement until 2030. In addition to the purchase of green energy.

Other Bosch plans include water reuse and waste management. In the period from January to July 2021, Bosch neutralized 30 thousand tons of carbon. Check here for more details about the Bosch project.

How to make your company carbon neutral

To make your company carbon neutral, you need to make some changes thinking about sustainable aspects. The inventories of companies specialized in measuring the carbon emissions of companies help in the identification of the most polluting points.

Check out some tips for your company to be carbon neutral:

Plant trees

Planting trees is one of the classic tips in an attempt to improve the capture and emission of gases. Some scientists even claim it to be one of the most efficient ways to absorb part of the CO2.

In addition, trees bring several other positive results to society. Including improved quality of life. After all, trees capture CO2 and turn it into oxygen.

Normally, this step is done in partnership with an institution or NGO. You can even do it with Plantree, an app developed by Redda+ where you can help the Amazon by planting a tree, from wherever you are in the world. Learn more about it in our post How to Plant a Tree in the Amazon Rainforest.

Support Non-Profit Organizations

Non-Profit Organizations carry out social, cultural, and environmental projects, some of which are part of these areas. They are institutions prepared to plant trees and restore green areas. Others help in the growth and development of sustainable cities. There are also institutions supported by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Your company needs to find an NGO that identifies itself and is truly committed, including in relation to being carbon-neutral.

Use Renewable and Clean Energies

Renewable energies need to be a reality in companies, and identifying how to insert this change in your company is important. Renewable energy sources have less impact on the environment, fossil fuel energy emits a lot of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Dispose of Waste Properly

Waste disposal is another concern regarding the emission of greenhouse gases. In addition, improper disposal can generate deep soil pollution and other impacts on the environment. Waste needs to be looked at from a new point of view.

Recycling is one of the options. Understand the production chain to identify at which stages recycling can be inserted. In addition to investing in internal actions in the company, in this way, the simplest to the most complex waste will not be ignored.

Invest in Research

Research is essential for a company that wants to go carbon neutral. Through it, it is possible to find better alternatives for the development of products. For example, how much more efficient a product can be without consuming so much energy. It is also a way to open up opportunities for creations and innovations for your company.

The important thing is to maintain the goal of zero carbon in all projects, in this way, the results will be linked to this need.

Reduce Excessive Consumption

Looking at your own company will allow a critical perspective on internal consumption. It is necessary to identify at which points the company is consuming unnecessarily. These are details that can go unnoticed, and, at this moment of evaluation, can be rearranged. Excessive consumption causes environmental and economic impacts.

Use Natural Resources Efficiently

Natural resources need to be used with care as they are finite. However, when thinking about a product based on natural properties, you invest in sustainability. It is necessary to find a balance between the use of natural resources and the survival of the company, working in an integrative way.

Find out how Redda+ can help you making your company carbon neutral.

Redda+ is an organization with the purpose of developing projects that integrate social, economic, and environmental concerns. Not only that, these projects are developed in communities in the Amazon region, seeking a better relationship with nature.

REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) mechanisms are the guiding principles of Redda+. These mechanisms assist in carbon offsets from oxygen insertion. One of the Redda+ projects takes place in Portel, Pará, and is also linked to the 17 UN Development Goals.