Avoid, reduce, and compensate - this should be the motto of every climate-neutral company. Not without reason is climate change one of the most important challenges of our time. Scientists paint a bleak scenario in the event that there is no profound turnaround - and soon. The goal should always be to avoid or at least reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is a responsibility that everyone must assume. Jörg Roggensack, management consultant and DQS auditor, describes in an interview how he went about making his company climate neutral.
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Climate Management
Corporate climate management faces the concrete challenge of making a contribution against climate change. However, greenhouse gas emissions - especiallyCO2 - are often unavoidable in order to maintain ongoing business operations. For example, emissions are generated by industrial production processes, by energy consumption for mobility or during major events.
However, more and more companies and organizations are becoming aware of their social responsibility and want to make an active contribution to environmental protection.
"Any company that has made the decision can "go carbon neutral."
First of all, this doesn't mean that you can't emit greenhouse gases from now on. Rather, there are instruments you can use to offset your own emissions. The focus here is on reducing anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide (CO2). This is a responsibility that all companies - regardless of size and industry - must take on.
For many, the road to becoming a climate-neutral company is still quite long. But it's worth it - whether for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or major international corporations. After all, environmentally friendly business practices are playing an increasingly important role in your customers' purchasing decisions or their choice of employer.
What is a climate-neutral organization?
"Avoid - reduce - compensate": that is the short formula for climate-neutral action. The first option should therefore be to avoid greenhouse gas emissions or, as a second option, at least to reduce them.
If greenhouse gas emissions can neither be avoided nor reduced, organizations have the option of becoming "climate neutral." First of all, carbon neutrality does not mean that your organization does not emit greenhouse gases (GHG). Rather, there are tools you can use to offset your own emissions.
"For the identified unavoidable GHG emissions, your company buys certificates from projects that are not only carbon neutral but sequester GHGs and are therefore climate positive, these are calledCO2 sinks."
The following points, among others, are important when selecting such climate protection projects:1. Additionality: the projects would not exist without financing through offset certificates.2. Permanence: the projects are designed to last. For example, reforestation projects do not re-cut forests at a later date.3. External recognition of the project, for example by Gold Standard, VCS.
"The above-mentioned certificates for the voluntary compensation of greenhouse gas emissions are not to be confused with the trading of emission rights according to the Kyoto Protocol. Here, too, the term "certificates" is often used."
Causes ofCO2 emissions
CO2 emissions are often unavoidable if business operations are to be maintained. Greenhouse gas emissions are caused, for example, by industrial production processes, by energy consumption for mobility, at major events or even by daily energy consumption in private households.
Causers ofCO2 emissions, which in Germany for example account for just under 90 % of the greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere, are for example (by share):
- Energy generation - approx. 39 %
- Industry - approx. 23 %
- Transport - approx. 20 % (incl. individual transport, for example for business trips)
- Building management - approx. 16 % (incl. private housing)
- Agriculture - approx. 2 % (but main producer of the greenhouse gas methane)
However, it is not only large companies in energy or heavy industry that pollute the atmosphere with GHG emissions and thus promote climate change. SMEs, however small, are also affected, albeit to a much lesser extent. But even - and especially - small companies can live up to their responsibility: perhaps more easily than you might think!
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Determining theCO2 inventory
A prerequisite forsystematicCO2 emission savings is the correct determination of your individual Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF), theCO2 inventory of your company and/or your products. Other greenhouse gases are converted intoCO2 equivalents in the course of the inventory, and also recorded.
The determination is usually carried out along international guidelines such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) or the ISO 14064-1 standard. The following subdivision of emissions has now become established worldwide:
Scope 1 - Direct emissions from the organization's operations, for example, from company-owned power plants, vehicle fleets, or chemical processes.
Scope 2 - Indirect emissions resulting from the generation of energy sourced from outside the organization, this is mainly electricity and heat.
Scope 3 - Indirect emissions caused by the company's activities but not under its control, for example from suppliers, service providers, customers or recycling (upstream and downstream).
The so-called materiality analysis has proven its worth. With its help, the relevantCO2 reduction potential can be easily determined and the measures for reducingCO2 emissions can be derived. Examples are:
- Use of green electricity
- Use of modern, efficient equipment
- Environmentally friendly heating
- Environmentally friendly driving or transportation
- Use of digital technology, etc.
For the correct recording or calculation of the remaining corporate carbon footprint, it is advisable to involve a specialist who carries this out in accordance with suitable regulations such as the GHG Protocol or ISO 14064-1:2018. The credibility and resilience of your greenhouse gas inventories can also be significantly increased through verification by an independent body such as DQS.
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Author
Altan Dayankac
DQS product manager and expert on numerous sustainability, climate, environmental and occupational safety topics. Altan Dayankac also contributes his expertise as an author and presenter on environmental and occupational health and safety committees, and at numerous professional events.
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