How industries are reducing carbon emissions

Corporate social responsibility strategies have focussed on reducing the carbon footprint for years. However, the need for organisations – and industries as a whole – to go green has become increasingly urgent. 

This is largely down to the UK government aiming for the country to be carbon net zero by 2050. This target has already seen the government bring in plans to ban petrol and diesel cars and phase out traditional gas boilers.  

As a result, businesses are seeking to become carbon neutral. In March 2021, 30 of the UK’s FTSE 100 companies signed up for the Race to Zero campaign, the United Nations’ global alliance committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. By November of that year, that number had doubled. 

But it’s not just businesses that are bringing about change. Industries as a whole are making seismic shifts in the way operations are run. For major change to be brought about, this needs to happen at both an industry-wide and company-wide level. 

What is carbon neutrality?

Before we can look at the changes being made, it’s worth exploring what carbon emissions and carbon neutrality are.  

Being carbon neutral means not releasing any carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. By not releasing carbon dioxide, it won’t be contributing to the greenhouse effect, which is where harmful greenhouse gases are trapped close to the Earth’s surface, making our planet warm up. 

Carbon net zero is the next step. This is reducing greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible. Net carbon zero is achieved when the amount of greenhouse gas produced is no more than the amount that’s taken away. 

What industrial changes are being made?

Here are some steps that industries can take to reduce carbon emissions: 

• Transition to renewable energy

Reviewing energy sources is the first port of call. If factories, warehouses and power plants can make the change from fossil fuels to renewable equivalents, this could go a long way towards lowering emissions. These can be both good for the environment and potentially save money in the long run.  

This is especially the case if we use solar and wind power as these are resources that can be readily accessed. 

• Waste management

Reviewing the way waste is controlled and overhauling the way it’s managed on an industrial scale can go a long way towards saving energy and reducing waste. This can be a huge undertaking, especially when waste management includes the reduction of factory pollution, but many businesses invest in air pollution solutions already. If this can become a standard addition for industrial businesses, it could significantly reduce waste levels.  

• Carbon offsetting

Where it can be difficult to avoid the production of carbon dioxide, carbon offsetting could be used. Here, businesses balance out the production of CO2 by planting trees and embarking on other sustainable ventures. 

Despite the ongoing efforts being made amongst all industries it’s important to note that achieving carbon neutrality is a complex and multifaceted challenge. Along with making sustainable changes to their manufacturing and processes partnering this with collaboration between industries, governments, and consumers is vital to creating a sustainable future and addressing the global climate crisis effectively.