Greenwashing is an attempt to make people believe that your company is doing more to protect the environment than it really is.
In the recent decade, greenwashing has rapidly increased due to the shift in values that consumers, stakeholders and investors have. 73% of global consumers reported that they would change their consumption habits to reduce their impact on the environment; Therefore companies have a financial incentive to be more environmentally responsible.
Some of the most commonly advertised claims are based on clean air, energy and recycling. It is found that a lot of these declarations have no evidence or backing from third parties to confirm these claims, rendering them inefficacious.
One popular solution many companies opt for is carbon offsetting their production of greenhouse gases. This process comes with third-party backing which can be used within marketing practices to demonstrate integrity.
Research shows less than 5% of carbon offsets actually remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. So, carbon offsetting may seem to be an easy solution but in reality is a deceptive way of getting away with the negative environmental impact. These offset programs that plant trees, for example, can be hard to track, and there’s a risk that the trees might still later be lost to flooding or forest fires. Planting trees can’t replace slashing carbon emissions.
To avoid greenwashing in your company there are many sustainable routes to go down. At ECBS, we are huge supporters of renewable energy. It will not only benefit your corporate social responsibility but your operational costs too.
Solar is one of the only completely renewable energy sources that exists. Solar energy does not release any greenhouse gases and doesn't pollute water sources, meaning it is the ideal energy source for a business that is looking to reduce its carbon footprint.
Solar PV is a cost-effective way to cut down on your emissions and the price of your energy bill. Our customers have found their energy bills reduced by up to 60%. It is also a great way to improve your energy security by being less reliant on the National Grid. Storing electricity on-site means that you give your business a supply to fall back on, should this be needed.
Another option to consider when looking to truly obtain and integrate sustainable practices in your business is electric vehicles. The data that exists indicates electric cars are far less polluting during use than their petrol or diesel counterparts. In Europe, on average electric vehicles emit more than 3 times less CO2 than equivalent petrol cars.
It is becoming common for companies to replace their fleet with electric alternatives. The share of electric cars in total sales has more than tripled in three years, from around 4% in 2020 to 14% in 2022.
Alternatives to integrating electric vehicles into your business include employee car schemes that offer electric vehicles and cycle-to-work schemes; Implementing such schemes can cut down the amount of emissions produced in your workforce's commute. By installing EV charging on your company site you can incentivise employees to switch to greener alternatives by making it more accessible.
At ECBS, we offer a range of sustainable solutions to help your company reduce its carbon footprint including Solar PV and EV Charging. To find out more about our renewable services today by requesting a brochure from jack.cook@ecbs.co.uk