Introduction
Reducing your company’s carbon footprint isn’t just good for the planet—it’s also increasingly expected by customers, employees, investors, and regulators. The good news is that you don’t need massive overhauls to start making a meaningful impact. With practical and focused strategies, your business can cut emissions by 20% or more without compromising performance or profitability.
In this guide, we outline simple, actionable steps you can take to reduce your company’s carbon emissions and start building a more sustainable operation—no matter your industry or size.
Why Target a 20% Reduction?
A 20% reduction in your carbon footprint is both ambitious and achievable for many businesses. It strikes a balance between impact and feasibility, and often represents the low-hanging fruit of emission cuts—actions that are:
- Cost-effective
- Quick to implement
- Supported by existing technology
It also aligns with science-based targets for early-stage emission reductions and shows stakeholders that your business is serious about climate responsibility.
Step 1: Conduct a Baseline Emissions Assessment
Before reducing your carbon footprint, you need to understand it.
Key actions:
- Use a carbon calculator or hire a sustainability consultant to identify your Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
- Break down emissions by category: electricity, travel, supply chain, waste, etc.
- Prioritize the top-emitting areas where you can make changes.
Tools to use:
- Climate Active (Australia)
- Carbon Trust
- GHG Protocol tools
Goal: Identify the top 3–5 sources contributing most to your current footprint.
Step 2: Switch to Renewable Electricity (Reduce up to 15%)
Electricity often makes up a large portion of Scope 2 emissions. Switching to renewable sources is one of the easiest and most impactful changes you can make.
What to do:
- Switch to a 100% renewable energy plan with your current provider.
- Purchase GreenPower or certified renewable energy credits.
- If feasible, install solar panels at your facility.
Impact: Businesses switching to renewable electricity can reduce their total carbon footprint by 10–15% or more, depending on energy usage.
Step 3: Reduce Office Energy Use (2–5%)
Optimising energy use is low-cost and immediately effective.
Key changes:
- Replace all lighting with LEDs
- Install timers and motion sensors for lights and HVAC
- Set computers and equipment to energy-saving modes
- Use smart power strips to eliminate phantom load
- Adjust thermostat settings seasonally
Tip: Engage employees in office-wide “energy-off” campaigns.
Step 4: Optimise Business Travel and Commuting (2–5%)
Transportation is another major emissions contributor—often underestimated in business operations.
Strategies:
- Replace in-person meetings with video conferencing
- Encourage public transport, carpooling, or bike-to-work programs
- Offset any essential air travel with verified carbon credits
- Invest in electric or hybrid fleet vehicles over time
Bonus: Remote or hybrid work policies significantly reduce travel-related emissions.
Step 5: Reduce Waste and Improve Recycling (1–3%)
Waste sent to landfill creates methane—a potent greenhouse gas. Reducing waste can also cut Scope 3 emissions tied to material production.
Actions:
- Conduct a waste audit
- Eliminate single-use plastics in kitchens and events
- Implement office recycling programs (paper, e-waste, compost)
- Move to digital-first documentation to reduce paper use
Step 6: Audit and Adjust Procurement Practices (2–4%)
Your suppliers’ carbon emissions contribute to your Scope 3 footprint. More sustainable sourcing can result in measurable reductions.
Changes to make:
- Choose suppliers with carbon-neutral or low-carbon practices
- Source local to reduce transport-related emissions
- Use recycled or low-emission materials where possible
- Consolidate orders to reduce shipping frequency
Ask suppliers for their sustainability policies and emissions data as part of vendor evaluations.
Step 7: Engage Your Team and Track Progress
Cultural buy-in amplifies impact. A motivated team will help embed sustainability into daily decisions.
Best practices:
- Educate staff on how their choices impact emissions
- Involve employees in green team initiatives
- Set team-based reduction targets
- Share regular updates on progress
Use carbon tracking software or a dashboard to report monthly or quarterly progress.
Optional: Offset What You Can’t Reduce (Up to 100%)
After minimising what you can, consider purchasing carbon offsets to neutralise your remaining footprint.
Look for:
- Certified projects (e.g., Gold Standard, Verified Carbon Standard)
- Local offset options that align with your values
- Transparent providers with impact reporting
Offsets should not replace reduction efforts—but they are a valuable bridge to full decarbonization.
Example: Achieving a 20% Carbon Reduction
Let’s say your business emits 100 tonnes of CO₂ per year. Here’s how a realistic reduction plan might look:
| Action | Estimated CO₂ Savings |
|---|---|
| Switch to 100% renewable energy | 12 tonnes |
| Reduce office electricity use | 3 tonnes |
| Cut business travel by 50% | 2 tonnes |
| Improve recycling and procurement | 3 tonnes |
| Total Reduction | 20 tonnes (20%) |
Conclusion
Reducing your company’s carbon footprint by 20% is achievable with a focused, practical approach. Start with energy use, travel, and procurement—three of the biggest levers. With consistent effort, you’ll not only meet sustainability targets but also improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen your brand reputation.
Taking climate action doesn’t require perfection—it requires momentum. Start with what you can control, measure your progress, and build from there.
