SUSTAINABILITY
TAKING MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS With net zero
deadlines looming closer, it’s time for businesses to cut their carbon footprint. But why should they act, and what can be done? Claire Price of QMS International explores this question
temperature rise. But to do this, emissions must be halved by 2030 with net zero being achieved no later than 2050. But this goal is beginning to slip out of our
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fingers, with the UK set to miss its fourth and fifth carbon budgets. To achieve the sixth, the country will need to cut emissions by 78%. Action from the business world is key to this,
especially in high-emission sectors. The manufacturing sector, whose greenhouse emissions stood at 60 MtCO2e (metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) in 2018, is key to meeting targets, as is construction, and transport and logistics, which is responsible for 27% of total greenhouse emissions. Despite the growing urgency of reaching
net zero by 2050, many organisations have yet to accept the reality of the threat. QMS International’s latest research of business attitudes towards sustainability found that environmental sustainability was only listed as a top or second priority by 1.9% and 11.2% of businesses respectively. The majority (23.4%) put it as the seventh business priority – out of eight. This suggests that it is now time for businesses to reprioritise and take environmental matters into their own hands. By being proactive now, organisations can
dodge future headaches, especially where legislation or seeking new business is concerned. Acting now also ensures that organisations
will stay in step with other clients and customers. For instance, 69% of respondents to the QMS survey said that good green credentials were either very important or quite important to their clients. Becoming more carbon-friendly can save money and create new jobs too. In the report
50 OCTOBER 2021 | PROCESS & CONTROL
he UK’s commitment to the Paris Agreement means that we have to play our part in limiting the global
Manufacturing resilience: driving recovery towards net zero by the All-Party Parliamentary Manufacturing Group and Policy Connect, it stated that matching the most efficient operator in the manufacturing sector would, on average, enable a company to become 24% more profitable, create 30% more jobs and cut greenhouse gas emissions by a sizable 9%.
Short-term actions Simple actions, such as implementing wider recycling efforts, are easy wins that can help a business towards greater sustainability. Other actions, such as enforcing a paperless policy, can also be useful. Energy efficiency in general can be very
rewarding too, with consistent monitoring being an easy but often overlooked first step. For instance, manufacturers can easily keep tabs on their usage with half-hour meters. However, a recent survey by Make UK revealed that more than 95% of manufacturers do not use them.
Medium-term actions
A key medium-term action is developing a system to monitor, measure and improve an organisation’s environmental management. Systems such as ISO 14001, the international Standard for environmental management, can help put this structure in place. “ISO 14001 helps organisations to consider all
aspects, risks and impacts of their environmental performance and to plan strategically,” explained Chris Tuffrey, regional manager for QMS International. “Ultimately, ISO 14001 can lead to cost savings as well as a demonstrable commitment to managing environmental risk.” Recognisable Standards such as ISO 14001 can also carry weight when it comes to
reassuring new and old customers. Also, with greater monitoring and measurement processes, it can be easier to spot opportunities to reduce waste. According to the Cutting embodied carbon in construction projects by WRAP, on-site construction waste can account for up to 15% of the embodied carbon in a building. Other medium-term shifts could include
building up a new supply chain of more local suppliers or replacing equipment and vehicles with greener alternatives. For instance, the All- Party commission reported that the electric motors found in industrial equipment account for 65% of industrial energy use worldwide, which could easily be reduced with ones that have variable speed drives.
Long-term actions Longer-term actions require an organisation to build up a detailed strategy that integrates environmental management into their business objectives. By doing so, businesses can build success and ensure sustainability is part of every decision-making process. For example, an organisation can
investigate new, greener products and services. Longer-term strategies could also include switching to more train or water freight transport. Although medium and long-term actions
require more time and investment, they are key to long-term success. By using them, organisations can avoid the implementation of piecemeal solutions that fail to drive continual improvement, something that is absolutely necessary when it comes to winning the race to net zero.
QMS International
www.qmsuk.com
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