Most consumers in 2021, care greatly about the sustainability of the companies and brands they support and purchase from. I am no different, and this goes for my own business too. Since founding the business 6 years ago I have done everything I can to keep the company as carbon neutral as possible.
Here are the things I am currently doing to keep my business, services and product offerings sustainable, eco-friendly and actually carbon positive (actually removing carbon from the atmosphere instead of contributing to it).
Using only 100% green electricity
All the businesses core functions (office work) run entirely off electricity, supplied by a 100% renewable energy supplier. This is the largest area of impact for the business and keeps the company almost completely carbon neutral. The property the business is run from is supplied by an eco-friendly air source heat pump.
(Almost) paperless
The company has been almost entirely paperless (everything excluding the odd notebook, and certain tax documents which can only be requested by post from HMRC) since it was founded in 2015. All documents are created and managed online using tools like Google Drive to save paper, and all billing is also paperless.
Totally remote business, so no nasty emissions
In today’s world, there is simply no need for a flashy office. The business is run entirely remotely (and has been since 2016) with all client calls and meetings conducted online. As all employees work from home remotely, so there is also no commute footprint!
Eco-friendly office supplies and equipment
As much as possible, only eco-friendly materials are purchased and used in terms of office supplies and equipment. Then as much as possible is recycled. I actively reduce my own personal plastic use on a daily basis as well, through things like reusable water bottles, plastic free cleaning supplies, plastic free packaging, etc.
Choosing eco-friendly suppliers
Wherever possible, I choose eco-friendly companies to provide software and services that my business requires. The greatest impact comes from Google themselves, who have actually been carbon neutral since 2007. Our file storage and management, online meeting software, website hosting and reporting software is all also provided by Google.
Carbon positive offsetting with Earthly
Despite all of the above, there is still a small carbon footprint left to offset. This has been calculated to less than 5 tonnes of CO2 per month, but I choose to offset 8 tonnes to positively contribute with the help of Earthly. This is done through the support of the REDD+ Brazil Nut Concessions Project.
This is a world-class REDD+ project focusing on rainforest conservation in the heart of Peru. Run by Bosques Amazonicos SAC (BAM) this project aims to reduce deforestation in over 300,000 hectares of Peruvian Amazon and reduce millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere due to illegal deforestation.
In total over the whole period of the project, an estimated 64’668,764 tCO2e will be secured from deforestation as stored carbon within the trees and soil. BAM estimates that without this project deforestation would destroy approximately 34% of the project area by 2040.
This project is certified by Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS) which means the project must meet certain standards and provide measurable results to show that the carbon within the rainforest has been secured and deforestation is not occurring.
You can check my company profile on Earthly by clicking here
