Globally, and across multiple industries, there is a drive to reduce the environmental impact of business operations – and LubioScience is no exception. By monitoring the amount of energy we use, the quantity of waste we create, and the carbon emissions we produce, we strive to become greener year on year.
Green credentials are key to attracting customers
Within the past two decades, numerous independent studies have shown that customers prefer to do business with companies which have a reputation for being green. While it would be impossible to provide an exact figure, estimates range from 53% of customers in 2007 to as many as 65% of customers more recently. A company’s green credentials are assessed as part of its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy – the set of measures used to determine how sustainable an organization’s operations are and how worthy it is of future investment. This highlights the importance of a green ethos to businesses and customers alike.
Examples of green initiatives
There are many different ways in which a company can become more green. A tried and trusted approach is to use more sustainable packaging, such as by downsizing to smaller containers, switching from polystyrene boxes and packing peanuts to recyclable alternatives, or replacing plastic bags with paper. Increasingly, companies are incentivizing their customers to return packaging, which is both greener and provides cost savings as a consequence of repeated reuse.
Another common tactic is to implement practices for lowering energy consumption. These include reducing the ambient temperature of offices or laboratory space, swapping incandescent light bulbs for light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and replacing older equipment with more energy-efficient alternatives. Other energy-saving measures include turning off lights in unoccupied spaces and powering down any equipment (including computer screens) that isn’t in use to eliminate the so-called standby effect.
In recent years, there has been an increased focus on using greener web hosts. A commonly held misconception is that by doing a lot of business online, a company is automatically more green. For example, by providing its customers with electronic invoices, a company’s paper use can be significantly reduced. However, these effects will be negated if the web host does not follow eco-friendly business practices, such as using renewable energy sources. Microsoft notes that web hosts which specialize in the use of green energy may even be able to offer cheaper plans because of that.
Additionally, the internet itself is reported to consume 416.2 TWh of electricity per year. To give some perspective, this is greater than the annual electricity consumption of entire United Kingdom. Online calculators such as webcalculator.com provide an estimation of a company’s web page carbon footprint, which can provide further food for thought.
Other ways in which companies can enhance their green credentials include cutting back on single-use items, donating unneeded equipment to other users or charities, and partnering with suppliers who can prove they have their own green initiatives in place. In addition, the environmental impact of staff travel can be reduced by allowing remote working, promoting car-sharing schemes, or offering loans for purchasing a bike. Companies may also choose to invest in a scheme aimed at offsetting carbon emissions, such as Carbon Footprint™.
Introducing Carbon Footprint™
Carbon Footprint™ works with companies worldwide – including LubioScience - to help them reduce their carbon emissions at source and compensate for any unavoidable emissions. Specifically, using Carbon Footprint’s online carbon calculation tool, a company can determine its total carbon emissions and identify areas for improvement. Carbon Footprint also enables carbon emission offsetting by planting trees in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, thereby helping to reduce poverty and regenerate much needed wildlife habitats. Notably, Carbon Footprint’s tree planting project is one of the most respected forest restoration programs in Kenya and has twice been chosen to host the globally recognized International Day of Forests.
More about LubioScience
LubioScience represents some of the most trusted brands in research and works closely with partners who are dedicated to reducing environmental pollution.
We are proud to be a certified carbon neutral company!
Actions speak louder than words and with this in mind we have taken the route towards becoming a carbon neutral company. We have calculated our CO2 emissions across the entire company and invested in sustainability projects in order to compensate these emissions.
- Contact us today to discuss how we can support your project.
- Read more about what we do to go green on our sustainability page.
- For more information on who we are and our social engagement, visit our about us page.
