{"id":25427,"date":"2023-11-08T06:10:17","date_gmt":"2023-11-08T11:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quantumlifecycle.com\/?p=25427"},"modified":"2023-12-01T07:01:16","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T12:01:16","slug":"how-to-drive-business-sustainability-from-your-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quantumlifecycle.com\/en_CA\/blog\/how-to-drive-business-sustainability-from-your-role\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Drive Business Sustainability from Your Role"},"content":{"rendered":"

In recent years, companies have begun setting sustainability<\/a> goals such as net zero with the expectation that all employees will contribute. Yet, if sustainability isn\u2019t your core role, ESG initiatives<\/a> can be overwhelming. From breaking down the acronyms to defining terms like carbon credits<\/a> and understanding why they matter, this guide will share everything today\u2019s business professionals should know about sustainability and how to support it.<\/p>\n

Business sustainability terms to know<\/h2>\n

ESG<\/h3>\n

One of the most commonly used sustainability acronyms is \u201cESG.\u201d While you may be familiar with it, here\u2019s a quick refresher: E stands for environmental; S refers to social initiatives like training and community; and G is for governing aspects, such as board representation and anti-corruption.<\/p>\n

ESG was developed by the investor community to focus on non-financial aspects of business \u2014\u00a0in other words, what they\u2019re doing beyond being profitable. To participate in ESG implies that you\u2019re taking action in the areas described above and measuring your impact.<\/p>\n

Most companies begin with \u201cE\u201d because it\u2019s often easiest to measure the direct impact of sustainability initiatives<\/a>. There are many tangible components of it, including waste, sustainable procurement<\/a>, and how your company\u2019s operations impact the environment. To break it down even further, carbon tends to be the core focus of the environmental component because it\u2019s the most pressing issue, but companies should beware of developing \u201ccarbon tunnel vision\u201d and overlooking other environmental concerns.<\/p>\n

GHG<\/h3>\n

Greenhouse gasses, or GHG, are also referred to as emissions and carbon footprint. While GHG composition is roughly 80% carbon dioxide, it also includes other gasses, including methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gasses. When we discuss carbon emissions, CO2e, or carbon dioxide equivalency, is used to describe greenhouse gasses and their potency.<\/p>\n

Scopes of Emissions<\/h3>\n

As you pursue sustainability efforts<\/a> in your company, it\u2019s helpful to know how emissions are categorized. There are three main scopes used to classify how emissions are produced:<\/p>\n