1. Measure and reduce your carbon footprint 🌱
Have you already measured your carbon footprint? It's an essential first step to understanding your environmental impact and then acting on it, if it's not top-notch. You can calculate it on Goodplanet, or on Ademe, both as a company and as an individual. Once you've made your diagnosis, it's time to take action.
To find out how high your carbon footprint is as an individual, compare your emissions with the national average or with the targets set by organizations such asADEME. In France, the individual average is around 10 tonnes of CO2 per year, while the target is to get down to 2 tonnes by 2050.
As a company, compare your emissions with those of your sector, using standards such as those of ADEME or the GHG Protocol. As a reminder, the Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C by the end of the century. To achieve this, companies must reduce their emissions by 45% by 2030 (compared with 2010 levels) and reach net zero emissions by 2050.
2. Solutions to reduce your carbon footprint
Switch to soft mobility 🚲
One of the best solutions, as you know, is soft mobility! Replace your ugly SUV with a muscle or electric bike for your daily commute, and take public transport whenever you can. Of course, we're not telling you anything, so take the train rather than the plane, whenever possible. As a reminder, on average,train travel emits around 10 to 50 times less CO2 per passenger-kilometre than air travel. And if you really can't take the train, consider shared solutions like carpooling.
Telecommuting: a winning solution 🖥️
The French Environment and Energy Management Agency (Ademe) has estimated that one day of telecommuting per week reduces CO2 emissions per employee** by 271 kg per year. A real impact, both for the environment and for the well-being of your teams. So why not consider two days of telecommuting? 🌿
2. The circular economy at the service of the environment ♻️
Nothing is lost, everything is transformed! That's the principle behind the circular economy, an approach that involves giving objects a second life to avoid waste.
Recycle and donate rather than throw away 💼
Décathlon has understood this by launching the resale of second-hand equipment, and you can apply this principle to the office too. What to do with your old computers and office furniture? Recycle, resell or even donate them to associations like Emmaüs. The result: less waste and a positive social impact. 🌍
Repair before buy-back
Rather than replacing equipment as soon as it breaks down, some companies are adopting repair policies. This not only reduces e-waste, but also the costs associated with purchasing new equipment. 💻
Rental for all
Rental is an eco-friendly solution that promotes the circular economy by limiting the production of new goods and reducing waste. By sharing resources, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions linked to manufacturing, while extending the lifespan of objects. This sustainable model helps reduce over-consumption and enables companies to integrate environmentally-friendly practices into their CSR strategy.
3. Responsible eating: change your cantoch! 🍽️
Did you know that food accounts for 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions? Fortunately, there are several simple actions you can take as an individual or within your company to reduce this impact.
Eat local and in season 🌱
Eating local and in season reduces the carbon footprint by limiting emissions linked to transport and intensive greenhouse production. According to Ademe, food transport can account for up to 30% of a product's total emissions, and choosing seasonal food can reduce the carbon footprint by 15-20%. It also reduces energy consumption for refrigeration and storage, making consumption more sustainable.
A concrete example Blablacar, for example, has set up a canteen favoring short circuits and organic produce. This reduces the impact of transport while guaranteeing healthier, tastier meals for your employees. 👩🌾
Fighting food waste 🗑️
The Too Good To Go application enables companies to sell their unsold food at a reduced price, thus avoiding food waste. It's both ecological and economical. A simple and effective initiative for your lunch breaks!
4. Involve your colleagues in your approach 🌳
Employees are central to the success of any CSR strategy. Their commitment is essential to achieving sustainable development objectives.
Offer reusable water bottles 💧
A simple but impactful idea: distribute reusable water bottles to all employees.
A concrete example Danone has done just that, reducing the use of plastic bottles while enhancing the eco-responsible commitment of its teams.
5. CSR Communication: let people know what you're doing 📢
You can implement all the CSR actions in the world, but if nobody knows about them, they'll have less impact. The key: communicate your initiatives well to engage your employees and stakeholders.
Be transparent with your reports 📄
Major companies like L'Oréal publish annual CSR reports detailing their progress in sustainable development. This reinforces the credibility of their actions and inspires other companies to follow suit.
Use social networks to raise awareness 📲
Patagonia is a successful example of CSR communication. The company regularly shares its eco-responsible initiatives on its social networks, engaging its community around environmental issues. The company is also a pioneer in corporate social responsibility. Its**"Worn Wear**" program, which encourages people to repair clothes rather than buy new ones, is a model of circular economy and carbon footprint reduction. The company mobilizes its employees and customers in this CSR approach, reinforcing its credibility and commitment to sustainable development.
What do we take away from this article? 📌
✅ Switch to soft mobility or telecommuting to reduce your carbon footprint.
✅ Opt for the circular economy by recycling and donating your old equipment.
✅ Eat local and fight food waste on a daily basis.
