Today’s businesses are more aware of the significance of being green than ever, with sustainability becoming an absolute necessity for both their success and for environmental well-being. Compliance with regulations such as EU CBAM is now required in order to remain successful and competitive in the market.
In this blog post, we provide essential tips on how to green your business and explore what compliances must be adhered to in order to be sustainable and compliant in business operations.
Get Certified
Receiving certification from environmental organizations will demonstrate your business is taking serious steps to reduce its carbon footprint and make efforts towards becoming sustainable.
Implement Energy-Saving Practices
Energy-efficient measures in office spaces may include lowering consumption levels, tapping renewable sources of energy like solar panels and investing in energy-saving appliances and equipment.
Recycle Where Possible
Encourage employees to recycle any paper, plastic, e-waste or other materials used by your company. Also, look for opportunities to repurpose items like furniture and computers that no longer serve their intended purpose rather than throwing them out as waste.
Green Transportation
Adopt eco-friendly transportation methods like carpooling or offering incentives to employees who use public transit.
Reduce Waste
Consider investing in reusable cups and utensils as one way of cutting back on single-use plastic waste, while being sure to dispose of hazardous materials properly.
Encourage Employees to Buy Local Produce
Encourage employees to support local produce whenever possible or institute a “Meatless Monday” policy where no meat products are served at lunchtime.
Implement Paperless Solutions
Where possible, utilize electronic document storage and transactions using paperless technologies; for instance, signing PDF documents electronically instead of printing out hard copies to be signed is one way of going paperless.
Water Conservation
Make an investment in energy-efficient appliances and fixtures as well as low-flow systems in order to conserve water use. Encourage employees to take shorter showers, turn off taps when brushing teeth or washing dishes and reduce toilet flushes per day in order to save water usage. If your business uses a lot of water itself, then consider if you can take any steps to reduce water usage or get the water you do use connected to systems that can let it be recycled. Where this isn’t possible, reach out to one of the wastewater consulting firms of your choosing. Working closely with such consultants can help you to reduce your wastewater volume and decrease your business’s environmental impact.
Making your business environmentally friendly has never been simpler. There are various strategies any business can use to become green, from cutting energy consumption to investing in eco-friendly transportation methods. Here are nine compliance reporting requirements businesses should abide by:
EU CBAM (EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism)
This new regulation applies to companies who import or export CO2-intensive goods into or from the EU, and are required to report their carbon emissions, declare any CBAM tax rate applicable, and calculate any applicable taxes.
ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System Standard)
Companies must adhere to ISO 14001 standards in their environmental management practices, which includes setting targets and objectives for waste reduction, creating policies, conducting audits, and taking measures to control emissions.
REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals).
This regulation seeks to regulate the use of hazardous chemicals in products sold on the European market. Companies must register, evaluate and authorize all chemicals utilized during production processes.
WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)
This legislation seeks to limit electronic waste by encouraging companies to reuse, recycle or responsibly dispose of electronic equipment like computers. When disposing of this equipment they must adhere to WEEE regulations.
RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances)
Under this regulation, companies are required to use only approved hazardous substances in their products and packaging materials, providing customers with information about any potentially harmful ingredients contained within.
PCB/PCT (Polychlorinated Biphenyls/ Polychlorinated Terphenyls Regulations)
These regulations regulate the use of certain chemicals such as PCBs and PCTs in electrical equipment. Companies must adhere to these laws to ensure their products are safe for both their customers and the environment.
GHS CLP (Globally Harmonized System Classification Labeling and Packaging)
This legislation requires companies to provide adequate product information so their customers can make educated purchasing decisions, and outlines guidelines for labeling and packaging hazardous materials. Companies must abide by these regulations in order to safeguard both customers and the environment.
ELV/WVTA (End-of-Life Vehicle & Whole Vehicle Type Approval Regulations)
These regulations regulate the proper disposal of end-of-life vehicles, and companies must follow them when disposing of theirs to avoid environmental damage and comply with environmental standards.
EPCA (European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register)
Under current environmental legislation, companies are required to track and report emissions of certain pollutants from their activities. Companies must abide by these laws in order to safeguard the environment by not discharging harmful emissions into air, water or land environments.
Adherence to these regulations allows businesses to demonstrate their dedication to reducing the environmental impact of operations while adopting eco-friendly practices like energy conservation, using natural cleaning products and investing in water-efficient appliances and fixtures further lessen environmental footprint. By taking simple steps toward becoming more eco-friendly companies can not only save money while helping ensure healthier environments for future generations.
