Lowering either our personal or a business’ carbon footprint is a key step in the transformation to net zero, and it aligns with broader efforts to address climate change and promote a decarbonised economy.

But first things first.

What is a carbon footprint?

PERSONAL

Our personal carbon footprint is determined by daily activities, such as commuting, food consumption, the clothes we buy and everything we consume. All of these actions create emissions. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas (GAG) emitted through these activities. The amount of GAG emitted correlates to the size of your footprint.

So the math is simple: the more you consume, the higher your footprint will be.

It can be complex to identify what has to be adapted in order to lowering our emissions.

Here is some recommendations of what can positively impact your pursue to a balanced lifestyle:

Clothing

• Visit upcycled stores and recycle clothing when possible
• Try swapping, borrowing and renting
• When buying clothes, look out for responsibly made and sustainably sourced material

Food Consumption

• Consume local and seasonal products. Support your local market as it will be fresher and it is a fun choice for the weekend
• Reduce your meat consumption – according to Greenpeace, “the industrial meat system requires a huge amount of land to sustain itself. Forests, particularly in South America, are deliberately slashed and burned every year to graze cattle and grow enough crops to feed billions of farmed animals.”
• Take reusable shopping bags
• Trial buying smaller portions to avoid waste

Transportation

• Cycle, ride share or use public transport
• Electric Vehicles (EV’s) are increasing in popularity as the government is investing in charging stations, which minimises range anxiety
• Analyse if flying is the only option or if there is an alternative that is less harmful for the environment. If the first option is necessary, purchase a carbon neutral flight. There is a small fee, but will off-set this mode of transport

Energy and waste

• Waste of natural resources can be easily fixed and it is a matter of changing behaviour. You would be surprised of how small tweaks actually causes a considerable impact
• Unplug your electronic equipment, standby uses energy,  and don’t leave your phone on charge when the battery is already full
• Limit and recycle your waste and compost food waste. Remember that avoiding waste at first place is always the best option
• Turn off the lights when leaving a room
• Look into renewable energy options such as solar and battery storage. They not only reduce your carbon impact, yet electricity costs. If you would like to learn more about it and request a quote, our preferred installation partner Mac Trade Services will happily assist you in the process

Digital Footprint

• Don’t store unnecessary data in the cloud. With the number of data increasing exponentially as the world’s population is constantly connected, consequently the energy consumption rises in the same pace. Actions such as deleting videos and photos that you no longer need it can make a difference
• Extend the life of your devices as much as possible by just upgrading when necessary and if the upgrade won’t consume more energy than the previous device
• Unsubscribe from commercial distribution lists or newsletters – we all get to many emails!
• Clean up your email inbox when possible

Energy-Efficient Appliances

• It might be time for you to replace Nanna’s old fridge as it can eat up expressive amounts of energy. That includes other devices such as air-conditioner, washing-machine and further appliances
• When in doubt of which product is appropriate for you in terms of quality, examine the star rating stickers

Curious about how big your environmental footprint is? Take a look at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) calculator.

BUSINESS

From a company’s perspective, emissions are categorised into three levels, which are called Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3.

Scope 1: Direct Emissions

They are direct greenhouse gas emissions that result from sources that are owned or controlled by the reporting entity.

Examples:

• Combustion of fossil fuels on-site (e.g., in company-owned vehicles, boilers, or furnaces).
• Process emissions from chemical reactions occurring on-site.

Scope 1 emissions are considered direct because they originate from sources that are within the organisational boundaries.

Scope 2: Indirect Emissions from Purchased Electricity, Heat, or Steam

These emissions encompass indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with the generation of electricity, heat, or steam that is purchased and consumed by the reporting entity.

Examples:

• Emissions from the combustion of coal, natural gas, or other fuels by a power plant that supplies electricity to the organisation.
• Emissions associated with the transmission and distribution of purchased electricity.

Scope 2 emissions are considered indirect because they result from activities outside the organisational boundaries but are related to the business’ consumption of purchased energy. The organisation has control over its energy procurement choices, but not over the actual emissions at the point of generation.

Scope 3: Other Indirect Emissions

This is he most complex scope as it encompass all other indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur in the value chain of the reporting entity, including both upstream and downstream activities.

Examples:

• Upstream emissions from the extraction, production, and transportation of raw materials and fuels.
• Downstream emissions from the use and disposal of products and services.
• Business travel, employee commuting, and transportation of goods.

Scope 3 emissions are considered more challenging to quantify and control, as they extend beyond the direct operations and energy procurement of the business.

ZEN is taking the necessary steps to support Australia’s transformation to renewable energy.

The first was to adopt a science-based emissions reduction target aligned with 1.5°C. Now, we focus on communities by helping build a 1.5°C world for everyone. Our ESG Report 2023 contain our Scope 1, 2 and 3 strategies and other actions we are taking that also evolves social responsibility and ethical governance.

In summary, lowering our carbon footprint is a critical step in addressing climate change, protecting ecosystems, promoting human health, and fostering a sustainable and resilient future.