Sustainability is a hot topic amongst modern consumers. 78% of American consumers say that being sustainable is important to them and 60% say they’d pay more for a product if it came in sustainable packaging.
Despite strong trends in favor of sustainability, many businesses are still failing to take their responsibility to the environment seriously. This is a major issue as, according to reports collated by Our World in Data, global carbon emissions topped a record-breaking 37.15 billion tonnes in 2022.
Conversely, progressive businesses that take their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) responsibilities seriously can repair ecological damage and cut down on carbon emissions. This approach will win over consumers while enhancing efforts to protect the natural world.
Renewable Energy
Investing in renewable energy is the best way for firms to cut carbon use at the source. Companies that pivot towards renewables can dramatically reduce their pollution and help fund increased expansion in energy sources like solar panels, hydropower, and wind farms. Renewables play a crucial role in modern firms, too, as businesses that adopt sustainable energy production:
- May be eligible for tax breaks and incentives depending on their location
- Can increase their resilience, as firms that produce their own power are less reliant on the grid
- Benefit from reduced fuel costs if firms rely on fleets of vehicles for shipping
- Improve their ability to embrace the digital revolution thanks to the IoT
Firms that do decide to install their own renewables should take care to partner with the right suppliers. Rather than opting for the first firm that pitches them, companies should do their due diligence to ensure that their renewable partners aren’t greenwashing and run sustainable operations themselves. This is key, as unethically sourced solar photovoltaic (PV) cells have a negative impact on the environment.
Similarly, companies that do invest in sustainable tech like solar panels should have a strategy to deal with the waste that they eventually produce. PV cells should not end up in landfills, as they are highly toxic and cause further damage to the environment. Rather, companies should partner with climate-resilient innovators who can turn today’s trash into the recycled products of the future.
Climate-Resilient Innovations
As the world warms, businesses must begin to pivot towards climate-resilient solutions that help folks adapt to the reality of climate change. This is crucial, as, without an adaptive approach, we’ll continue to expand CO2 emissions and will likely find that resource conservation efforts fall short. Firms that care about combating climate change can start by improving the resilience of their buildings by installing:
- Trombe Walls: Trombe walls are designed to trap warm air in the winter months behind glass panels. These walls can be shaded during the summer when temperatures are high with screens, too.
- Water Harvesting: In countries like Kazakhstan, water scarcity is already an issue. To address low precipitation, firms can install atmospheric water generators to pull water from the air and reduce strain on the wider water grid.
- Green Roofs: Green roofs combat heat islands in urban areas by using potted plants to reduce temperatures. These roofs are expertly installed to ensure roots don’t damage the integrity of the building’s roof, too.
- Evaporative Cooling: HVAC units can be energy intensive. Instead, firms can use modern evaporative cooling systems that are based on ancient Egyptian methods to keep their homes cool.
- Passive Solar: Companies that can’t afford to install solar panels can still use the sun’s energy to warm buildings during the winter months. This reduces dependency on force-air systems and minimizes strain on the energy grid.
Adopting these systems reduces reliance on non-renewable energy sources and will help firms save money. Investing in solutions like green walls can increase investment in the renewable sector and help fund innovative solutions that help society switch to low-carbon energy sources.
Ecological Restoration
Sustainability is about more than reducing carbon emissions. True sustainability requires firms to invest in and protect their local environment. This is particularly important today, as the world seeks to bounce back from business operations that have resulted in deforestation, destruction, and environmental degradation.
Companies that care about restoring the local environment should seek to partner with trusted nature advocacy groups in the community. Forming partnerships is the best way for firms to amplify their impact, as many charitable organizations are forced to run on a shoestring budget and are in dire need of funding. Working with trusted professional partners can be a real boon for the marketing department, too, as they’ll be able to form strong brand associations with trusted pillars of the community.
Conclusion
Business will play a central role in helping society pivot towards more sustainable solutions. Even simple changes, like using passive solar to reduce energy consumption, can hasten the switch to renewables and reduce pressure on the wider grid. Firms that authentically care about their impact should consider partnering with charities to support conservation efforts, too, as sponsoring community clean-ups and nature reserves improves the resiliency of the local ecology.
Photo Credit
Photo by Alesia Kazantceva on Unsplash
Guest Author Bio
Charlie Fletcher
Charlie Fletcher is a freelance writer from the lovely “city of trees”- Boise, Idaho. Her love of writing pairs with her passion for social activism and search for the truth. When not writing she spends her time doodling and embroidering. And yes, she does love all kinds of potatoes!
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