It is impossible to cut down emissions by any business before understanding their sources. Energy consumption, transportation, waste, procurement of goods, and regular business activities can be a source of the company’s carbon footprint; however, it is not always easy to define its scale. 

A greenhouse gas assessment allows for the calculation of all possible sources of emissions and the determination of which areas have the most potential for reduction. Rather than basing environmental management on assumptions, companies will be able to make decisions based on actual emissions statistics.

Start by Finding Where Emissions Come From

The first step towards reducing emissions is understanding what is contributing to them. Every business has a different operational profile, which means the most significant sources of emissions will vary between industries and organisations.

For one business, energy consumption may be the main contributor. For another, transport, fuel use, manufacturing activities, or purchased goods may account for a larger share of its overall footprint.

A detailed assessment can help establish a clearer picture by looking at relevant sources across business operations. Depending on the organisation, this may include:

  • Electricity and other energy consumption.
  • Fuel used by vehicles and equipment.
  • Business travel and transportation.
  • Waste generation and disposal.
  • Purchased products and materials.
  • Other relevant operational activities.

Understanding these sources provides a starting point for deciding where attention is needed most.

Focus on the Sources That Matter Most

Not all sources of emissions will contribute equally to your impact. One of the problems with which companies struggle is choosing those spheres that require immediate improvement in case the company faces a shortage of financial means for the environmental upgrades.

The information about your emissions can help companies understand which sources of emissions are insignificant compared to those that make a significant contribution to the company's emissions.

For instance, replacement of some office equipment will have a rather low impact on the environment in case the main sources of emissions of the company are energy-intensive activities and transport.

Turn Data Into Practical Reduction Opportunities

Having identified significant sources of emissions, companies can start looking for ways of reducing them.

The specific actions will differ depending on the operations of the company, although some possibilities might include improving energy efficiency, eliminating unnecessary travel, looking at transport issues, minimising waste, or reconsidering the purchase and usage of resources.

A company that has found out that its operations involve significant energy consumption could look into how it could become more energy efficient. If the sources of emissions are related to transportation, then the company can examine these issues in detail.

The critical thing is that having emissions data gives companies a better starting point for making decisions. Instead of initiating environmental programs just because they seem useful, companies will be able to take actions that relate directly to the major sources of emissions.

Set Reduction Targets Based on a Clear Baseline

Setting environmental objectives is one of the objectives of most businesses; however, setting realistic objectives becomes impossible without a baseline.

A baseline enables the comparison of future performance relative to the current performance. The baseline allows organisations to identify the current level of emissions and to know whether the reduction targets are realistic or not.

For instance, a business may set targets for reducing its emissions within a given time frame. However, without a baseline, it may be difficult to know the extent of success attained.

A baseline will enable an organisation to create realistic objectives that are:

  • Relevant to their operations.
  • Measurable over time.
  • Realistic and achievable.
  • Aligned with broader environmental objectives.

This creates a more structured approach to emissions reduction and makes it easier to evaluate progress.

Measure Whether Your Actions Are Working

Adoption of an emissions reduction plan does not necessarily mean that the project will automatically achieve its intended aims. Performance monitoring by companies helps to establish whether there have been any changes made to their environmental impact.

Comparison of existing emissions levels against the set benchmark helps in gaining knowledge on how effective certain initiatives have been.

Where the emissions level drops, the company can learn what actions led to such results. Where it is less than expected, the figures can help to identify the cause of such a situation.

It is only through the analysis of the outcome that companies will be able to learn the result of their efforts.

Use Emissions Data Beyond Environmental Planning

Information acquired from an emissions assessment can further aid in decision-making that goes beyond the realm of environmental management.

As firms make decisions regarding alterations to their equipment, facilities, purchasing practices, logistics, and procedures, the information about emissions can serve as one additional factor among others like cost, efficiency, safety, and performance.

For instance, knowledge of emissions from various energy sources and operational methods can prove useful to firms in evaluating proposed changes.

This can support decisions relating to:

  • Equipment upgrades.
  • Energy consumption.
  • Procurement strategies.
  • Transport and logistics.
  • Operational efficiency.
  • Resource use.

Using environmental data as part of wider business planning can help organisations make decisions that consider both operational needs and long-term environmental performance.

Keep Measuring as the Business Changes

It is very likely that the emission profile of a business will change over time. The business could have newer machinery, its scope could increase, it could have different suppliers, or its processes could be modified.

This could influence the emissions of the company. Therefore, it cannot be assumed that measuring emissions is a one-time thing. Regular reviews would give businesses the chance to find out if the emissions profile has been altered and if the measures taken before are still applicable. They also give a chance to explore any new sources of emissions.

With time, this process forms a cycle of:

Measuring → Identifying → Prioritising → Acting → Reviewing → Improving

This would give businesses the chance to develop their environmental policies along with their business.

Make Emissions Reduction Part of Business Planning

Effective emission reduction methods can be considered those that integrate themselves into the daily business practice rather than operating separately from it.

Knowing one’s emission profile enables companies to take into account the impact on the environment at all stages of planning projects, analyzing processes, selecting suppliers, or purchasing new equipment.

In this case, emission reduction is more efficient and integrated into daily activities. Moreover, it allows responding to the expectations of customers, clients, investors, and other stakeholders who might be interested in this area.

Conclusion

The first step towards reducing the levels of greenhouse gases involves identifying the sources of such emissions and assessing their importance in order to establish a baseline of emissions. Such a baseline will enable businesses to set priorities, measure their results, and make more informed decisions. Measurement will further enable companies to monitor their performance as business activity changes.

If your organisation wants to better understand its emissions profile and identify practical opportunities for improvement, SHEQ Management provides support with greenhouse gas assessments to help businesses make informed environmental decisions and strengthen their approach to emissions management.