With climate changes on the rise, more and more organizations are looking for ways to boost resilience, strengthen the supply chain, and support environmental initiatives.
The scope of these changes is sweeping and continuing to transform the landscape.
As we look at ways to make earth-friendly decisions, we are also seeing signs and signals that environmental awareness is good for our brands, our planet, and our customers.
The question now is: how can we continue to demonstrate our commitment on a personal and organizational level?
No one has a complete and exhaustive answer to this question. Yet, by discussing, collaborating, experimenting, and refining, we can be part of the solution.
Educating Ourselves
Education and learning are the starts of all significant change. One of the best sources for information about personal action for climate change is the United Nations. Steeped in research, the U.N. offers practical tips for individuals and organizations.
By educating yourself on the climate situation, you can wrap your mind around the current status of where we are on our planet.
Understanding Climate Sensitivity
We know the climate is changing. What we often don’t understand fully is how much and how fast. Research teams are reviewing data and updating our understanding of Earth’s climate sensitivity. According to NASA, this is a key measure of how much our climate will change with greenhouse gas emissions.
Evaluating Materials
As businesses, we have a choice in the materials we use. We can start with evaluating if we are using sustainable materials across the board. This includes the materials we use as well as the suppliers we support. We can examine this at every level of our organization.
Refining Our Relationships
Making earth-friendly decisions directly impacts our relationships. Who do we work with as vendors, providers, and suppliers? Who are we working with to handle our insurance contract negotiation and is there an opportunity to improve our environmental impact?
Are we leaving money on the table by trying to do everything ourselves? Or are we possibly in the position to move ahead on strategic initiatives to expand our provider network, connect with priority partners, and reshape the future?
Minimizing Carbon Footprint
We all know that it’s a good idea to reduce our carbon footprint. This takes on massive proportions when you’re looking at what you could achieve on an organizational level.
If you just start with yourself, you’ll become the one who is turning off the lights, unplugging electronics, and keeping the thermostat on low. But, if you go further, you’ll get into more of a champion for minimizing the carbon footprint of your entire organization.
One of the big trends in the last year has been working remotely. This in itself is helping the environment. We aren’t spending as much time in cars, trains, and airplanes. We aren’t contributing to climate change because we aren’t commuting all the time.
It may not seem like much. But it does help to give a positive perspective on working remotely.
Involving Our Teams
We all wonder what else we can do to live more sustainably. One of the big impact things you can initiate is getting your team and company involved.
By working together, you and your co-workers can choose to take action. You can work together to invest in a clean environment.
And you are not alone in taking the challenge. The United Nations has developed a template to simplify communicating this challenge and involving others. You can use this to help employees and peers choose to live more sustainably for at least a week. You and your team can join up and track your actions to promote a sustainable future.
Saving Electricity
As an individual and as an organization, you can do your part to conserve natural resources. Turn off the lights. Switch off lights when you are done using them. Track electrical usage from heaters, appliances, and other electrical items at home and work.
Share your actions with your team, your company, your partners, and your vendors. Set up contests to work together for the environment.
Sum Up
Working together with your team on sustainability goals is good for morale, finances, and the environment. You’re making a difference with your earth-friendly efforts.
