For Businesses
As environmental leaders, we not only have the responsibility to make our companies better, we also have the responsibility to make our communities better."
- Ted Wells
To combat the climate crisis, we support businesses and communities through education and resources. While not all businesses or communities are exactly alike, our collaborative method will help inform, facilitate, and develop optimal opportunities to reduce carbon emissions. Our 5-step action road map will enable any business or community to understand the basics of their carbon footprint and set up a long-term plan to reduce their carbon impact and its associated costs. We believe our collective passion and hard work can create the transformational change our planet needs. Please join us and become a leader in Carbon Footprint Improvement.
STEP 1: Build a Green Team
We have found that many people share a passion for the environment and want to do more to support environmental improvements. Developing and supporting that passion is good for business and employee retention. Determine who these key employees are and invite them to form a company Green Team. The Mission of a Green Team is to engage, educate, and empower employees to reach sustainable goals, develop and support the implementation of action plans to reach those goals, and promote environmental awareness for a greener tomorrow. Use engaging gatherings to provide training on how to identify business wastes, carbon reduction opportunities, and best practices in a collaborative and positive atmosphere. Providing trainings about carbon reduction methods and leadership strategies will support a continuous improvement mindset.
Contact ClimateUnified.org if you are interested in support for developing and training your Green Team.
STEP 2: Define your Footprint
A carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by a business. It is expressed as a measurement (metric tons) of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions a business has on the environment. For businesses, the greenhouse gas emissions are broken into three scopes. The World Resources Institute is a great reference.
Scope 1: Direct emissions related to business operations use of fossil fuels, refrigerants, and process releases (fermentation, plastics.)
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from energy use from utilities (typically electricity).
Scope 3: Emissions related to the supply chain (products, goods, and services purchased or used by the business.)
Go on a Carbon Hunt to identify the primary energy uses and carbon emissions for the business. The goal is to gather information and data for each of the scopes. Data collected from operations activities and utility bills are entered into an online carbon calculator to determine the baseline footprint.
We recommend the calculator at CoolCalifornia.org.
Step 3: Make a Plan
Using the information gathered in Step 2 and from the carbon calculator, choose your targets for reduction. We recommend planning to reduce emissions from items in Scopes 1 and 2 as these are the most under your control in the near term. The big targets in Scopes 1 and 2 are the fossil fuels used in transportation and HVAC systems. Make a plan to target the most impactful and cost-effective items from your hunt. Create a transition plan for further opportunities that require a longer-term transition to fully assess and implement over time. Some assets have several years of useful life, therefore it may be more cost-effective to identify the end of useful life and target replacement in your long-term plan. To target a 50% reduction in your footprint, try entering your targets back into the calculator to determine the impact.
Step 4: Address Your Supply Chain
The next step is to address your Scope 3 targets. Examine the products and services your business uses for opportunities to reduce or switch to greener alternatives. We acknowledge that Scope 3 reduction is very hard. In order to stabalize our climate with community action we need to educate and empower other businesses that carbon reduction is desirable and acheiveable. Let companies in your supply chain know you want to reduce your carbin footprint by 50% by 2030 and that includes the need for them to make a similiar committment, encouraging them to do the same. There are many companies that are committed to Net Zero. You can make the decision to use your purchasing power with them.
Step 5: Wield Your Influence
In order to stabalize our climate, we need community action. We need to educate and empower people and other businesses to support the collective goal of carbon reduction. In addition to those companies in your supply chain, let your employess and costumers know about your pledge to reduce your carbon footprint by 50% or NetZero. Celebrate your goals and progress via company publications or social media. Send letters to your government officials to encourage them to lead the charge for change. Support those programs and policies that align with your committment to taking action against climate change.
Step 5 empowers your bussiness and Green Team to become leaders in Carbon Footprint Improvement. You can not only take responsiblity for your impact on carbon emissions but improve your community as well.