Quick Ways To Reduce Your Business’ Carbon Footprint

Julie Starr • November 25, 2020



Any conscientious company should be looking not just at their profitability but also their sustainability. All businesses will impact the world around them, but that impact does not have to be negative. In America, the average footprint for each person is a staggering 16 tons per year. This figure can be lowered by a few quick and simple changes to our business practices. Here are a few simple suggestions that any business can quickly implement to reduce your carbon footprint. 

Streamline Your Online Data

It is hard to imagine, but while an email costs less carbon than a similar size letter, our online use still has a carbon footprint. A Greenpeace report stated that some of the biggest data centers consume the equivalent energy of 180,000 homes within a day because the drivers where cloud data is stored need power and often also need cooling. This has a cost. So if you have multiple duplicates of a file sitting on your companies’ shared files, this does have a cost to your carbon. Every minuscule cost soon adds up. Consulting for cloud environments is a service that will help you streamline your cloud setup and use it most effectively. The added benefit is that the less data stored, the lower your carbon footprint, and the less financial cost occurred as well. 

The Reusables Bin

A recent study by Forbes discovered that, on average, companies recycle 54% of their waste. While this is an increase over recent years, there is room for improvement. If you have a sound system of recycling in place, consider adding a Reusables bin as well. This is for items that might usually be disposed of but could be reused by the company. For instance, paper clips or ring binders can be reused multiple times. If your business prints large quantities of non-confidential paperwork, you could use the paper’s back for scrap notebooks, rather than just throwing them into the recycling. Remember, while recycling is great, it does have a carbon cost, and reusing is a much more efficient way to deal with waste. 

Appoint A Green Champion

The best way to show your commitment to your environment as a business is by investing in it. This doesn’t mean you need to siphon off your profits for tree planting each year (although that could be a great idea). Even just given someone dedicated time within a week to calculate your business carbon footprint and lead any campaigns to reduce the footprint is an investment. A green champion can become well versed in the latest thinking within your industry and ensure that projects are thought through with sustainability in mind. This will prove better in the long run than discovering you have a terrible environmental impact within your supply chain, for instance, and trying to unpick the problem. A green champion can have this cause at the forefront of their mind during planning meetings and can be expected to raise the issue whenever you need to discuss it. 

Finally, remember, as, with any business change, it requires a commitment from the leadership. You need to demonstrate to your colleagues that this is a cherished company value and take reducing your carbon footprint as seriously as increasing your profits.

Why Telling Your Sustainability Story Matters — And How Taiga Company Can Help

By Julie Starr • December 17, 2024
In today’s world, sustainability is no longer a buzzword—it’s a business imperative. Consumers, investors, and stakeholders are demanding more transparency and accountability from brands. They don’t just want to know what you sell; they want to know who you are, what you stand for, and how your work contributes to a better world. That’s where your sustainability story comes in. Sharing your achievements in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives isn’t just about meeting expectations—it’s about building trust, fostering loyalty, and inspiring action. At Taiga Company, we specialize in helping organizations authentically communicate their sustainability achievements in ways that drive measurable impact and align with their goals. Why Sharing Your Sustainability Achievements Is Good for Business Build Trust with Stakeholders Sustainability storytelling builds credibility and trust. Whether you’re addressing investors, employees, or customers, sharing your sustainability milestones demonstrates your commitment to accountability and long-term value creation. For example: Highlight your efforts in achieving science-based targets, reducing carbon emissions, or adopting circular economy practices. These stories resonate with audiences looking for businesses that align with their values. Differentiate Your Brand In a competitive marketplace, sustainability can set you apart. Brands that communicate their achievements in regenerative agriculture, water stewardship, or biodiversity conservation position themselves as industry leaders and innovators. Think of it this way: A well-told sustainability story is not just a report—it’s a statement of leadership, authenticity, and purpose. Drive Stakeholder Engagement Sustainability stories invite dialogue. By showcasing meaningful milestones, like successful recycling initiatives or community reforestation projects, you foster stronger relationships with stakeholders who want to be part of your mission. Engagement isn’t just about storytelling; it’s about inspiring action. Whether through social media campaigns, press releases, or executive thought leadership, your achievements can encourage others to collaborate and support your goals. Attract Purpose-Driven Talent and Customers Today’s workforce and consumers seek brands with purpose. Communicating your impact helps attract talent and customers who align with your mission. A transparent, well-executed sustainability strategy speaks volumes about your leadership and values. At Taiga Company, we specialize in results-driven communications that empower purpose-led brands to share their sustainability achievements with confidence and clarity. Our services ensure your story resonates with the audiences that matter most. Your sustainability achievements deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Whether it’s reducing carbon emissions, innovating in sustainable packaging, or leading water stewardship initiatives, telling your story is an opportunity to inspire trust, drive action, and shape a better future.

Why Going Green Is No Longer Optional for Industry Leaders

By Julie Starr • December 16, 2024
Alright, so here’s the deal, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword anymore. Sure, at this most most industries, yes, even the most unsustainable industries have this general idea, right? Well, you’re always going to find some businesses in some niches (and yes, industries too) who think that it doesn’t apply to them. But no, it applies to all niches and all industries, and yes, it’s a business requirement. Now, across every industry, the companies that are embracing green practices are the ones that are thriving. Why? Well, because customers, investors, and employees are all paying attention. If a business isn’t making an effort to be sustainable, it’s not just falling behind, it’s losing out. Overall, sustainability isn’t just about saving the planet; it’s about saving your business. Yes, this needs to be hammered in, so industry leaders, here’s why you’re just not excused. Green Practices Mean Growth Yep, it’s that plain and simple, So, sustainability isn’t just about doing the right thing, it’s about doing the smart thing. Businesses that prioritize green practices are cutting costs, staying competitive, and building trust with their audiences. So, reducing waste, switching to renewable energy, and sourcing materials ethically aren’t just good for the planet, they’re great for the bottom line. Simple enough, right? Well, take packaging, for example. Cutting down on unnecessary plastics doesn’t just make customers happy; it slashes production and disposal costs. So, switching to energy-efficient operations isn’t just environmentally friendly, rather, it saves a fortune on utilities. There don’t need to be roadblocks seen, rather they should be opportunities! There’s Plenty to Gain Okay, so sustainability isn’t just for industries with obvious environmental impact, it’s critical in healthcare too. Again, no excuses here. Hospitals and clinics use massive amounts of energy, and the waste from single-use supplies piles up fast. The same can be said for labs, and pharmacies too. Actually, go ahead and take specialty drugs as an example. Now, most people know that these life-changing treatments are for serious conditions, but they often come with sky-high costs. But why? Well, the production and distribution processes can be incredibly resource-heavy. But even sustainable practices can help lower prices, such as energy-efficient manufacturing or even cutting down on excess packaging. It might be hard to see, but little changes can make massive impacts on costs (and what’s being spent on both ends). Tech Easily Shows How Sustainability Drives Innovation The tech industry has been leading the charge when it comes to sustainability, and the results speak for themselves. Actually, companies like Google and Apple are proving that being green isn’t just possible, but this can actually be pretty profitable! If tech companies can do this, then yeah, all industries are capable. So above, medicine was mentioned, but data centers are also a great example ( since they use a lot of energy). Well, nowadays, most companies are now powering these centers with renewable energy, cutting costs and emissions at the same time. No Industry Gets a Free Pass It doesn’t matter if it’s healthcare, tech, retail, or manufacturing, basically, every industry has something to gain by going green. There are small examples like retailers ditching plastic bags for reusable ones. Then there are bigger examples like factories rethinking supply chains to cut emissions and save costs. But the reality is that businesses sticking to wasteful, outdated practices are falling behind. Besides, governments are rolling out stricter regulations.
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