Climate concerns and the topic of sustainability has been headline news around the world in recent years. Everyone, from individuals through to large corporations, are being urged to make eco-friendly choices and do what they can to reduce their carbon footprint.
Retail businesses are one such industry being called upon to incite change within their processes in order to support the environment for the long term. In this article, we will share how you can improve the carbon footprint of your retail business and have a positive impact on the planet.
What is Your Carbon Footprint?
A carbon footprint refers to the environmental impact your daily activities have on the environment. According to Nature, “a carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gasses (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions.”
So, for example, you might have a very high carbon footprint because of the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere every time you run a particular machine.
Taking steps to reduce your carbon footprint means doing what you can to lower the carbon emissions of your retail business. There are many ways you can do this. Let’s take a look at some examples.
1. Start by Recycling
One of the easiest and most impactful changes you can make in your workplace that supports the environment is recycling. Recycling is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint as it ensures you’re not sending as much waste to landfills.
Countrystyle Recycling explains that, “waste collected will be inspected on site to ensure permitted specifications are met, sorted and separated at [the] facility to enable effective recycling/recovery.” However, to keep things simple at work, we recommend separating your recycling into different categories such as food waste, cardboard/paper, glass, and tins. At the end of the week, your commercial waste can be collected and transported to a recycling centre on your behalf.
Introducing green recycling schemes into your workplace can help create a greener work culture and get your employees thinking about how they could make similar, productive changes in their own lives.
2. Invest in Sustainable Suppliers
One of the major complaints today’s consumers have of retailers is the lack of sustainable options. From greenwashing companies to those that don’t make any noticeable effort at all, many consumers are increasingly frustrated that it’s such a challenge to source ethical clothing.
So, if you want to get a step ahead of the competition, whilst also taking care of the environment, it’s time to invest in sustainable suppliers. Taking steps to reduce your carbon footprint isn’t just about improving your internal processes; you also need to take a step back and consider where you are supplying your materials from. This could include anything from clothing materials through to packing materials.
Investing in sustainable suppliers means you should look out for the ISO 14001 certification. This is a good sign that a business is doing what it can to reduce their waste and take positive steps for the environment. By sourcing sustainable suppliers you aren’t just boosting your green efforts but you’re also taking steps to reduce your carbon footprint across all aspects of your organisation.
3. Invest in Green Energy
Investing in green energy is one of the best ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your business. Some organisations even choose to invest in their own renewable energy sources, but this of course depends on your budget. Only 7% of SMEs have invested in onsite green energy generation, but this number is expected to double in the next year or so.
Investing in green energy, whether that’s through a green supplier or onsite energy generation can go a long way towards reducing the carbon footprint of your retail business because it reduces the amount of fossil fuels your company relies on to run. This can have a big impact on your energy-efficiency as a company and can go a long way towards supporting the environment.
4. Become Carbon Neutral
Carbon neutral businesses are those that offset their carbon use as a way to give back to the planet. Carbon offsetting is a good option for businesses that don’t have the income to invest in green energy solutions or sustainable suppliers.
There are many ways you can offset your carbon and by doing so, you can bring your total emissions down to net-zero. Some businesses choose to plant trees while others choose to donate money to green charities. Whatever your preferred option, there are many ways today’s business owners can offset their carbon usage and reduce their carbon footprint as a result.
According to Carbon Neutral Britain, “by calculating and offsetting your Carbon Footprint, your business can reverse all of its impact on climate change in 2022.” That is significant and definitely something you can proudly share with your customers and investors, too!
Final Words
There are so many ways you can improve the carbon footprint of your retail business. The strategies you choose are ultimately up to you, however we hope the suggestions in this article have provided some inspiration.
Retail Dive summarised things nicely when they said: “Together retail consumers and companies alike can push the industry toward a more sustainable future. With informed decisions and ambitious goals, retail can help create a greener planet for everyone, and become a more forward-thinking industry that leads by example.”
