How can I make my business more environmentally responsible?

These days, more and more companies are becoming aware of the importance of adopting a eco-responsible approach. Become an eco-responsible companyIt's not just an attitude to adopt, it's also a way of meet consumer expectations who are increasingly aware of the impact of their choices on the environment.

Today's websites are veritable showcases for brands, and consumers no longer hesitate to consult the websites they visit. ethical commitments and environmental before consuming.

Over the last decade, economic activity has been transformed by a number of changes, including a ever-increasing pressure to reduce environmental impact. To respond to this challenge, companies can make savings while positioning themselves as leaders in their field. players committed to the environment.

In this article, we explore different strategies for making your company more eco-responsible, with an emphasis on reducing plastic consumption and presenting an innovative solution proposed by LAVIE.

What is an eco-responsible company?

Let's start by laying the foundations and defining what an eco-responsible company is.

An eco-responsible company is one that takes into account the impact of its activities on the environment and seeks to minimise this impact by adopting sustainable practices. An eco-responsible company is aware of its social and environmental responsibilities and seeks to integrate these considerations into all its activities.

Eco-responsible companies seek to reduce their energy consumption, use sustainable raw materials, minimise their waste production and encourage recycling. They are also committed to reducing their carbon footprint by cutting greenhouse gas emissions linked to their activities.

More broadly, the concept of eco-responsibility is integrated into that of corporate social responsibility (CSR), which encompasses both environmental but also social.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR)

Ecological concerns have become a major issue for companies seeking to integrate sustainable development into their business processes. social responsibility in their overall strategy.

La corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to the way in which a company manages its economic, social and environmental activities so as to meet the expectations of its stakeholders and contribute to sustainable development.

In the context of CSR, environmental concerns are often integrated through the implementation of sustainable practices to reduce the carbon footprint and minimise the environmental impact of the company's activities. These practices can include the use of renewable energy, efficient waste management and reduced water consumption.

Companies can also adopt sustainability policies to encourage their business partners and suppliers to follow eco-responsible practices. In addition, some companies integrate environmental concerns into their supply chain by selecting suppliers with strong environmental policies.

Finally, companies can engage in awareness-raising and education initiatives to encourage their employees and customers to adopt sustainable practices and reduce their environmental impact.
In short, environmental concerns are an essential element of CSR, and companies seeking to be socially responsible must take steps to reduce their environmental impact and encourage sustainable practices.

Let's take a look at how you can put sustainability policies in place within your company to make it more eco-responsible.

How can I carry out a carbon assessment for my company?

In order to put any good policy in place, you need to start with concrete data. Drawing up a carbon footprint of your company's overall activity will be a good starting point.

There are a number of tools that can help you carry out a carbon footprint for your business. Here are a few examples:

The ADEME methodological guide

The French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) has developed a methodological guide to carrying out a carbon footprint for businesses. This guide provides practical advice and tools for assessing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with your company's activities.

Specialised software

There are several software packages specialising in carbon assessments for businesses, such as Bilan Carbone® and ECOSYS®. These software packages enable you to monitor and analyse your company's greenhouse gas emissions and propose actions to reduce them.

Specialist consultants

You can also call on consultants who specialise in carrying out carbon audits. These experts can help you collect data and analyse your company's greenhouse gas emissions, and suggest solutions for reducing them.

Online platforms

Some online platforms, such as Carbon Footprint and Carbon Trust, offer free tools to help businesses carry out simplified carbon audits.

By using these tools, you can get an overview of your company's carbon footprint and identify the actions you need to take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help combat climate change.

Read also: 10 tips to make your everyday life more eco-responsible

Actions to be taken

Now that your carbon footprint has been calculated, it's time to take action!

Adopting a waste management policy

Implementing a waste management policy is essential to reducing your company's ecological footprint.

This can include promoting recycling, reducing food waste and setting up a composting programme. Raising your employees' awareness of the importance of waste reduction and encouraging them to adopt good environmental practices is also crucial.

But encouraging a reduction in waste production also means :

Install selective sorting bins,
Reduce the use of disposable products,
Favour recyclable packaging.
Reduce paper consumption (print on both sides of the page, use email rather than paper, recycle paper).

Did you know, for example, that it takes an average of between 10 and 20 litres of water to produce an A4 sheet of paper? By reducing your paper consumption, you're also helping to preserve water, a vital resource.

Adopt a policy of energy sobriety

Over the next few years, the energy battle is going to revolve around the concept of energy efficiency. Here are a few simple actions you can take to implement an energy efficiency policy in your company:

Implement measures to reduce the energy consumption of equipment and facilities (use of LED bulbs, installation of a heating control system, etc.).
Choose energy-efficient equipment and installations when renewing and purchasing.
Use renewable energy sources to produce electricity and heat where possible (solar panels, wind turbines, etc.).
Identify energy leaks and sources of waste, then take steps to remedy them (thermal insulation, optimisation of production processes, etc.).
Reduce water consumption by installing water-saving equipment, recovering rainwater or educating employees about responsible water management.
Encourage remote working to reduce business travel, and therefore fuel consumption.

By combining these different actions, you can put in place a sustainable and effective energy efficiency policy within your company.

Promoting eco-responsible transport

Encouraging your employees to use more environmentally-friendly means of transport, such as car-sharing, cycling or public transport, can help reduce your company's carbon footprint. You can also introduce incentives, such as subsidies for public transport season tickets or the creation of secure cycle parking facilities.

Reducing plastic consumption: simple solutions exist

One of the main environmental challenges lies in the reducing plastic consumptionwhich pollutes our planet and our oceans. Of course, your company can contribute to this effort.

It should also be remembered that the chemicals present in plastics, such as bisphenol A (BPA), have been linked to adverse effects on human health, such as fertility problems and cancer.

One source of plastic that is relatively easy to eliminate is that arising from the consumption of plastic water bottles by your employees, by providing them with access to a pure and healthy source of water.

Read also: What are the environmental impacts of plastic water bottles and how can they be avoided?

What type of water cooler is right for my business?

There are several types of water coolers on the market, here are a few examples:

Filtering water coolers : These fountains are equipped with a filtration system to purify the water before it is dispensed. Filters can remove impurities, bad tastes and odours.

Read also: Filtering fountains: a complete guide to purer tap water

Water coolers with carboys : These fountains are fed by water bottles, which can be delivered regularly to ensure a continuous supply.

Water coolers with cooling system : These fountains are equipped with a cooling system to keep the water at a cool temperature.

Water coolers with UV-A technology : These fountains are equipped with a water treatment system that uses ultraviolet rays of type A (UV-A) to eliminate bacteria, viruses and chlorine present in the water. We'll look in more detail at how the LAVIE water cooler that uses this technology works in the next paragraph.

LAVIE: Filtering water fountain using UV-A radiation

How it works is simple: the water is sent to a treatment chamber where it is exposed to UV-A rays for 20 minutes.

These rays work by destroying pathogenic micro-organisms and chlorine molecules. In this way, the water is purified and ready for consumption in complete safety.

Water coolers with UV-A technology are particularly suitable for companies looking for a purification solution. effective and ecological. They reduce the use of chemicals in water treatment, while guaranteeing optimum water quality for consumption.

You can find all the information about the LAVIE UV-A water cooler in our shop : https://lavie.bio/produit/lafontaine-5-litres/

Read also: What type of water cooler is right for your business?

Making your company more eco-responsible is not only good for the environment, but also for your brand image and employee satisfaction.

By taking steps to reduce its ecological footprint, a company can improve its brand image and reputation with customers and stakeholders.

It can also lead to lower costs and greater operational efficiency. Finally, by acting responsibly towards the environment, companies can help to protect our planet for future generations. It is therefore essential that companies integrate environmental sustainability into their overall strategy and take concrete steps to reduce their environmental impact. By doing so, companies can not only contribute to a more sustainable future, but also reap many short- and long-term benefits.

Article written on 31/03/2023 by Pascal Nuti - CIO Solable - Passionate about energy, I'm constantly on the lookout for new targets for improvement, exploring cross-disciplinary paths using novel methods.