Monday 2nd of January 2023
Climate change is the grim result of relentless development work undertaken by countries worldwid
...e. Emission of greenhouse gases through transporta...
Climate change is the grim result of relentless development work undertaken by countries worldwide. Emission of greenhouse gases through transportation, industries, excessive power consumption, agriculture and forestry leaves a massive carbon footprint. It has led to increased temperatures, droughts, floods, bushfires and unprecedented rainfall in various parts of the world. South Africa has been deeply affected by this phenomenon, with its temperature rising 1.5 to 2 times more than the global temperature rise rate.
It is leading to a reduction of water resources and biodiversity in the country. Since businesses play a significant role in contributing to air, land and water pollution, they must follow corrective measures. Here is how businesses can address the problem of climate change. These steps will help entrepreneurs reduce carbon emissions, move towards sustainability goals and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Non-biodegradable plastic waste is hazardous for water bodies, atmosphere, plants and animals. Entrepreneurs who purchase an existing business for sale in South Africa must ensure that they stop packaging their products in single-use plastic wrappers. They must transition to recyclable and reusable packing materials that are eco-friendly.
They must find suppliers who use sustainable materials for packing goods. These include cardboard boxes, paper bags, cloth bags, biodegradable packing peanuts and recyclable materials. A plastic-neutral company helps to increase the popularity of the brand among eco-conscious customers. Since most of the shoppers are concerned about climate change, recyclable packaging helps the company to grow sustainably.
Water is a precious resource, and it is also scarce. South Africa has been grappling with a water crisis due to rising population levels and weak water infrastructure. Currently, 70 million litres of clean drinking water is wasted every day because of leaks.
Thus, businesses need to step up and identify leaks in pipes and faucets to get them repaired immediately. Entrepreneurs should invest in rainwater harvesting and installing water-efficient systems in the washrooms and kitchens of workplaces. They must have plants on the premises that require less water and recycle grey water for toilet flushing. A sustainable business attracts customers who are concerned about the environment and helps build credibility.
Energy efficiency is a prerequisite for becoming a sustainable business. The first step towards achieving this goal is to switch to energy-efficient lighting and equipment to reduce power consumption during operations. In addition, entrepreneurs who acquire businesses for sale in South Africa can install solar panels to meet their energy needs through a renewable power source.
They can also take advantage of natural lighting and ventilation to reduce dependency on air-conditioning and lighting. The parking and common area lights should have motion sensors to avoid wastage. The heating and cooling systems should have an auto cut-off, and lights and computers must be switched off when not in use. Business owners must lease green equipment and hire a green web hosting service to reduce their carbon footprint.
Waste creates greenhouse gas emissions due to its decay process in landfills. Therefore, businesses must address this problem and follow recycling and reusing practices. The first step is to remove disposable cutlery in the kitchen and replace it with steel bottles, ceramic cups and plates for water, coffee and food consumption in the workplace.
The food leftovers and peels, along with other organic waste, must be composted to be used in the plants on the premises. The old items must be reused in the office or can be donated and sold to other businesses. For example, old furniture can be refurbished into trendy new chairs and desks. Also, shredded paper can be used in packaging delicate products. In addition, they must follow the e-waste management strategy for re-purposing and recycling outdated gadgets.
Becoming a tech-forward business is a great way to ensure sustainability and competitive advantage in the marketplace. Entrepreneurs looking for business opportunities in South Africa must consider implementing digitisation and going paperless. The environmentally friendly practice reduces paper wastage and printing requirements.
In addition, installing software and automation apps can help increase the productivity of the employees. It will ensure that they take less time to do more quality work and become an agile organisation. It reduces the scope of error and improves time management, which helps cut down unnecessary costs and redundant processes that lead to emissions.
Another important way of addressing climate change is to ensure the workforce is trained to follow sustainability measures. They must make efforts to reduce waste and use of plastic. They must be encouraged to use public transport by offering allowance and be asked to carpool to reduce emissions. They can also use electric vehicles or start using road bikes, which can also improve their health.
Employees who have to meet clients must arrange for video calls to conduct face-to-face meetings and maintain collaboration with team members. They must be asked to carry their own bottles instead of buying plastic bottles. Also, they should be trained to waste less paper, electricity and water to meet the sustainability standards employed by the business. They should not waste food and help with recycling and reusing of old stuff.
The pandemic helped businesses become familiar with remote work in a more profound way. It required the entire company to function remotely, and things worked effectively as the employees enjoyed a better work-life balance and companies saved costs. Besides capital spent on providing all the comforts to on-site workers, a remote work policy is helpful in maintaining sustainable development.
Entrepreneurs who purchase a business for sale in South Africa must offer remote and hybrid work to their workers to ensure they are keeping the environment safe from unnecessary emissions. It eliminates using a big physical office that needs to be air-conditioned and lighted up. It stops the wastage of various resources and helps save the environment.
Wrapping Up
Businesses must pay attention to the climate change problems affecting the country and take strict action to reduce their carbon footprint. They can bring a change by adopting the measures mentioned above and make the world a better place to live.
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