The acceleration of global warming is the direct effect of greenhouse gas emissions and is considered unanimously to be one of the greatest threats to our planet.
The latest report (April 2022) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) leaves us with no illusions: we need urgent and profound actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to be able to limit the temperature increase. Decisive steps must be taken everywhere, at every possible level.
The report shows how fast we are using up our "carbon budget" and confirms the urgent need for deep emission reductions. The sooner and more effectively we address this, the less risk we will have to rely on unproven and risky solutions to remove carbon from the atmosphere. A personal approach to the topic of sustainability, while still incredibly important, is just not enough anymore. In the most recent EU Climate Law, the EU’s 2030 emission reduction target has been increased from 40% to at least 55%. Thus, reducing greenhouse emissions solely on the individual level won’t cut it.
Without businesses becoming conscious of what might be done to reduce their carbon footprint, we won’t be able to reach the desired goals. Decarbonisation is crucial to achieving our long-term climate objectives.
What’s in it for your business?
While the urgency from the environmental point of view is clear, there are other reasons why considering cutting your greenhouse gas emissions is the (only) right way to go. When looking from your company’s point of view, turning your business in a more sustainable direction includes benefits such as process optimisation, money saving and the image your brand is striving to achieve.
1 - Process Optimisation
Thanks to a thorough analysis of the individual stages and elements of the process, you are able to choose the right solutions, both regarding the production process itself and the supply chain. The key actions to reducing your carbon footprint include increasing energy efficiency or proper management of raw materials, energy and waste.
2 - Money Saving
Identifying areas with the highest cost reduction potential through an analysis that takes into account all aspects of the company's operations is the first step in your decarbonisation journey. Through optimisation of energy and other utilities consumption, improvement of the logistics and use of new solutions in the supply chain, the company can significantly reduce its existing production expenditures.
3 - Brand’s Image
When talking about going green, it’s not possible not to mention the image aspect. Research conducted by Tetra Pak Index in 2019 shows that environmental issues and health are the biggest concerns for consumers, and since then, the importance of brands staying environmentally conscious has only increased. Putting the focus on decarbonisation is the perfect step to showing your green mindset both for your clients AND investors.
Why Net Zero Cloud?
When we think of sustainability, we often think of choosing paper instead of plastic, cutting on energy and water usage or planting trees. What rarely comes to mind is ‘data’. And that’s a mistake. Understanding and interpreting your company’s data are the two most important steps in your journey to sustainability, and Salesforce has just the tool that can help you with that.
Net Zero Cloud is a carbon accounting system that aims (as its name suggests) to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming to zero. With its help, companies can analyse carbon data, make informed decisions, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Let’s take a look at Net Zero Cloud’s features and benefits.
Features and benefits of Net Zero Cloud
Environmental Impact SSOT
One trusted platform that serves as a single source of truth for all forms of environmental data, such as carbon footprint, energy use, and waste management.
Energy Use Records
Instant translation of energy use data to carbon emissions, based on globally conforming emission conversion factors. The data is categorized as Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, giving a complete, granular insight into your carbon footprint.
Carbon Footprint Forecast
Carbon Footprint Forecast assists with setting goals and defining a forecast model for the Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
Science-Based Targets
Reduction of carbon emissions by setting goals and staying on track, thanks to the built-in module that is in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) — an organisation that validates emission goals in accordance with the Paris Agreement.
What-If Analysis
Scenario planning in real-time based on the company’s cost and emissions inventory and visualising the outcome of potential decisions to choose the perfect path forward. The chosen scenario can be synched in Net Zero Cloud, so the progress can be tracked against it while using Slack to collaborate with key stakeholders.
Climate Action Dashboard (Powered by Tableau)
A single view of the company’s total carbon footprint, spanning Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Gives access to the most critical information, enabling climate-conscious decision-making.
Sustainability Audit Dashboard (Powered by Tableau)
A holistic view of the critical elements that influence the path to net zero, such as Greenhouse Gas (GHG) summary, energy consumption, asset types, and emission factors.
Business Travel Impact Dashboard (Powered by Tableau)
Roll-up summary of company-wide travel emissions across air travel, ground travel, and hotel stays. Review of the travel emission data by department, business unit, region, or any other logical grouping to make decisions.
Supplier Management
View of all Scope 3 emissions generated by suppliers in the procurement value chain and insights into supplier processes that have a significant impact on total carbon emissions.
Scope 3 Emissions Hub
Tracking of all kinds of Scope 3 emissions data with a dedicated app for granular tracking of EEIO (environmentally extended input-output) and procurement data for effective management of emissions from upstream processes.
Waste Data Management
Efficient management of waste by bringing in waste data from multiple sources. Calculate Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions based on preset emission factors and report on key waste metrics and KPIs.
source: Salesforce
At Waeg, we are dedicated to helping our clients walk the green path. To do so, together with IBM, we’ve developed a comprehensive offering to support this journey. Take a look at Salesforce’s overview of the tool itself to gain some amazing insights, and if you want to know more, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
Wiktoria Kaglik, Copywriter @Waeg, an IBM Company
