Acting for the climate: 3 key actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Optimizing energy consumption

The combustion of fossil fuels, which accounts for 70% of global emissions according to the IEA (International Energy Agency), is a key factor in reducing our carbon footprint . This calls for concrete, ambitious strategies on the part of companies.

💡Energy savings and loss reduction

Carrying out an energy audit helps identify inefficiencies in consumption, while contributing to the global goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

In France, as part of the national low-carbon strategy (SNBC), Decree no. 2019-771, which came into force on October 1, 2019, sets out the obligation to implement concrete actions relating to the reduction of final electricity consumption in tertiary-use buildings.

📈Investing in low-carbon technologies

Adopting equipment such as high-performance heating systems or LED lighting can generate considerable savings. LEDs consume up to 90% less energy than traditional bulbs (incandescent or halogen), and their longevity can be up to 30 times greater than a halogen bulb.
What's more, replacing oil-fired heating with a heat pump can reduce CO₂e emissions by up to 14 times for a surface area of 1,000 m² per year. (arbitrary surface area).

♾️Adopter renewable energies

According to ADEME, in France, every megawatt-hour (MWh) produced by a coal-fired power plant emits 1.06 kg CO2e.

Substituting fossil fuels with sustainable projects such as solar, wind or biomass is a direct way of reducing emissions through clean solutions:

Integrate a circular economy to reduce your carbon footprint

The circular economy and the inclusion of indirect emissions (Scope 3) are major levers for reducing an organization's carbon footprint. Purchasing, for example, can account for up to 80% of a company's total emissions. Acting on reuse, repair and recycling means acting directly on the company's footprint. These aspects require a transformation of practices to optimize the use of resources and collaborate with the entire value chain.

♻️Encourager recycling, eco-design and product recovery

The integration of the circular economy relies on the implementation of models that extend the lifespan of materials and reduce waste. "Faced with this, the European Commission has adopted an impactful initiative by introducing a virtuous circular economy package including proposals for legislative revisions to accelerate the transition to the circular economy."

• Recycling:

In France in 2023, according to the study "the recyclable market 2023" conducted by the Fédération professionnelle des entreprises du recyclage (Federec) :

• 23 Mt of CO₂e avoided thanks to recycling
• 39 Mt of raw materials from recycling were produced and sold
• 3.7 tonnes of CO₂e were avoided

Over and above its positive environmental impact, the recycling market is a buoyant one, generating a genuine circular economy which, by 2023, will be worth €11.03 billion, with no less than €734 million invested.

• Eco-design:

Eco-design involves integrating environmental considerations right from the product design phase. The aim is to reduce the product's environmental footprint throughout its life cycle.

• Upgrade

Favoring closed circuits for packaging and spare parts not only reduces waste, but also logistics and production costs.

• Responsible purchasing : 

Responsible purchasing refers to a procurement approach that integrates social, environmental and ethical criteria into an organization's purchasing process, while respecting its economic objectives.

This means that the company favors suppliers, products or services that reduce their environmental impact, respect human rights and promote fair practices.

These initiatives help optimize resources while meeting the expectations of consumers, who are increasingly sensitive to environmental issues.

📝 Analyze, calculate and reduce Scope 3 emissions

Scopes are a classification used to assess greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as part of a Bilan Carbone®. Framed by the GHG Protocol, scopes are key tools for assessing and categorizing an organization's greenhouse gas emissions. There are 3 types of scopes.

Scope 3 corresponds to all other indirect emissions occurring upstream or downstream in the company's value chain. Even if they are not directly generated by the organization, it is easy to understand that they are no less necessary to its activity.

Generally speaking, the most important scope 3 items for production facilities are as follows:

✅ Emissions from its direct suppliers, and throughout the value chain of its products

✅ Emissions linked to upstream and downstream transport and distribution

✅ Finally, in certain sectors (such as the automotive industry), emissions linked to the use of a product throughout its entire lifecycle can be very significant. However, this item is of a different nature to the others, as a product's environmental performance is generally directly linked to its quality and design.

🤝 Working with suppliers and partners

Scope 3 emissions cannot be reduced without active collaboration with value chain partners. 

• Involving suppliers: A company may require sustainability commitments, such as carbon audits or carbon footprint reduction plans. In addition, certain suppliers who are already committed may themselves take the initiative in seeking certification.

"49% of them initiate a certification process, even if the customer doesn't require it." According to PwC

• Optimize logistics: Solutions such as pooling deliveries or adopting electric vehicles can reduce the carbon footprint associated with transport.

"2 to 6 times less CO2 emissions over the entire lifecycle of an electric vehicle compared with a combustion vehicle", according to the French Ministry of Ecology. 

• Support collective initiatives: Participating in sector-specific decarbonization programs helps to pool efforts and accelerate progress.

In the shipping sector, the "Getting to Zero Coalition" initiative. This program aims to develop "net" zero-emission ships and the infrastructure needed to support them by 2030. By participating in this type of initiative, players pool their efforts by sharing research, co-financing technologies and establishing common standards, thereby accelerating the adoption of low-carbon solutions in the sector.

Raising awareness, involving employees and taking advantage of financial aid schemes

To move towards a low-carbon economy, we need the active involvement of our employees and the support of public aid schemes. These two levers are essential to transform climate ambitions into concrete strategies.

💯Trainingand involving teams

Raising awareness of environmental issues and training employees in carbon footprint reduction practices are key steps. When employees are involved in internal initiatives, they become ambassadors for change.

A well-informed team actively participates in achieving environmental objectives in order to reduce and better manage their carbon footprint. According to a study by the CSA Institute, 71% of employees claim to be involved in the environmental transition within their company, demonstrating a growing interest in green initiatives.

Involving employees in this way is essential to consolidating the organization's corporate social responsibility (CSR) culture. More than one in two employees would like to be better informed about their company's climate issues, motivated by a desire to contribute to sustainability projects, such as carrying out carbon assessments and implementing concrete measures to reduce their company's environmental impact.

🧑‍💻Le teleworking

Telecommuting significantly reduces commuting. An ADEME study shows that one day of telecommuting reduces the volume of daily travel by 69%.

By promoting teleworking, organizations can also contribute to this reduction in GHGs associated with their employees' daily commutes.

 🤝Carpooling

Bear in mind that 70% of home-to-work journeys are made by private car, often with a single occupant.

By setting up internal car-sharing platforms or encouraging the use of existing services, companies can optimize their employees' journeys.

♻️L adoption of electric vehicles

Over their entire lifecycle, EVs emit up to 2 to 3 times less CO₂ than a combustion vehicle. This adoption also contributes to the reduction of local air pollution.

By integrating these practices, companies can significantly reduce their indirect emissions linked to travel, while improving their employees' quality of life and contributing to the fight against climate change.