Unfortunately, every activity, product and service comes with a series of greenhouse gas emissions into the planet. The total amount of greenhouse gas emissions coming from each person and organization is often referred to as the carbon footprint: the real environmental impact each person and organization has over the planet.
Everyday activities, including the food we eat, the energy we use, the products we buy and the transport we choose have an impact on our environmental footprint.
Both individuals and organizations inevitably contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases, and managing our resources wisely is key to reducing our impact.
Personal Carbon Footprint
How can we reduce our carbon footprint as individuals? There are three key aspects we must take into consideration:
– First we should consider the use we make of energy. Making an efficient use of energy resources can reduce emissions and also save us money. Simple steps such as limiting the use of electronic devices and appliances to just the time we need them, switching them off whenever they are not being used as well as paying attention to their energy certification can make a huge difference.
– Then we should think about commuting and transport options: choosing public transport over your own vehicle or, in case you have your own vehicle and use it, keeping it in a good condition in order to optimize its performance and fuel consumption, are key aspects when it comes to reducing your carbon footprint.
– Finally, the lifecycle of the goods and services we use in our daily lives also has a strong impact in our carbon footprint. Every product implies CO2 emissions when it’s being manufactured, used and thrown away. By ensuring that each material is recycled correctly, we will contribute to the proper treatment of our waste.
Corporate carbon footprint
Sustainability is becoming a business asset influencing corporate performance. A poor management of greenhouse gas emissions and its consequent environmental impact can affect a company’s finances and performance.
By keeping a correct GHG inventory, companies in Spain make sure to keep certified and real data on their emissions in order to register their carbon footprint before the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition and get official certifications of their impact and performance.
Reducing and offsetting your carbon emissions
A professional carbon footprint inventory provides a starting point to start working on the company’s environmental impact. By getting this inventory, the company can identify the steps that need to be taken to improve corporate sustainability.
Knowing the carbon footprint data allows the company to plan a tailor-made carbon offset scheme through different initiatives such as planting trees in order to contribute to reforestation and making donations to different social projects.
What about you? Do you already measure, reduce and offset your carbon emissions?
