Reducing emissions - benefits for both the environment and business

Photo: Tomas Piliponis

The report by The New Climate Economy shows that 95% of plastic packaging, worth about $ 120 billion a year, is discarded after first use, and that plastic trace elements have been found in 114 aquatic species. The scale of the problem is considerable. However, there are multiple ways to promote environmentally friendly solutions for companies, different organizations and each individual thus reducing the plastic pollution. The most important thing is to find motivation and define the first steps to start.

If global business does not take a greener course, more than 140 million people will lose their homes by 2050 due to pollution (1). For the world's nations to be able to keep global warming 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, carbon emissions must be reduced by 40% by 2060. In most cases, we do not need additional motivation to help a person who is obviously in trouble. Today, the “person” to help is our planet, and at the same time it will enable everyone to live in a better place.

Sustainable solutions help not only nature but also business by boosting efficiency, improving brand value and reputation, providing a platform for innovation, helping to attract and retain staff and reducing costs. Green thinking can also boost competitiveness among environmentally conscious customers looking for like-minded providers of products or services. It also has a positive effect on employees' motivation and ability to attract and retain talent, for example, the generation of millennials seems particularly attractive to employers with sustainable goals that go beyond profits.

With the support of government and policy makers, companies tackling climate change through green solutions, technologies and growth strategies could achieve a total economic benefit of $ 26 trillion (2). Sustainability is stronger today than ever before, but to be truly environmentally friendly, you need to involve everyone who can contribute to your business and keep moving forward.

In fact, the concept of “sustainability” says a lot. It means the ability to withstand, build a business that will be resilient and develop in the long run. Sustainable business will pay off while improving social and environmental conditions. In addition, it includes not only what you do (product, service), but also how you do it (how you create a product or provide a particular service). The most important aspects on which a large part of “green business” is focused are energy, waste, prosperity, transport and smart procurement.

It is time for every company to take climate change seriously and start moving not only to more sustainable packaging solutions, but also to zero carbon emissions. There are solutions that can reduce emissions and reap financial benefits at the same time.

Sustainability is becoming an essential element not only in companies' development strategies, but also as a determining factor in the choice of customers and partners. Green thinking can provide a wide range of business opportunities and has become an important consideration in business strategy. In a circular economy, resources are never abandoned. Products are designed to be safe and easy to integrate into production and reproduction cycles. By reducing the use of new resources, the impact on the climate in the circular economy also decreases. More sustainable operations will also help your business become more efficient. There are many reasons why every business should become more environmentally friendly - the state of the environment, social considerations, financial benefits, etc. Before you start implementing a sustainable action or implementing its elements, explore all the options that are offered. This will help you choose not only the best solutions for the planet, but also for your business.

Tomas Piliponis is Carlsberg brand manager in Latvia

(1) https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/29461
(2) http://newclimateeconomy.report/