Wholesale Industry - your carbon footprint and how to reduce it

Do you work in the Wholesale industry? As a player in the wholesale industry, it is important to consider your company's carbon footprint. With climate change becoming a pressing issue, measuring and reducing your carbon footprint can help you contribute to a more sustainable future. Additionally, implementing sustainable practices can help you reduce costs and improve your company's reputation, attracting environmentally conscious clients and investors.

On average, 44% of your carbon footprint will be from direct, scope 1 emissions

The carbon footprint of a company in the wholesale industry is primarily composed of scope 1 (direct) emissions, construction materials, waste disposal and business travel.

Carbon Footprint of an Example SME in the Wholesale Industry Carbon footprint of an average wholesale company pie chart

How to reduce your carbon footprint from scope 1 (direct) emissions, transportation of goods, packaging and business travel

Reduce your scope 1 emissions

Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions. They come from sources owned or controlled by your company, like burning fuel in company vehicles or on-site equipment.

Improve energy efficiency: invest in energy-efficient equipment and processes to reduce the amount of fuel consumed in operations.
Fuel switching: replace high-emission fuels like coal or oil with lower-emission options such as natural gas or biofuels.
Vehicle fleet management: opt for electric or hybrid vehicles and implement efficient driving practices to reduce fuel consumption.
On-site renewable energy: install solar panels, wind turbines, or other renewable energy sources to power operations, decreasing the reliance on fossil fuels.

Optimise your goods transportation

Optimise distribution routes and schedules for efficiency.
Use fuel-efficient, hybrid, or electric vehicles for transportation.
Consolidate shipments to reduce the number of trips.
Collaborate with eco-conscious logistics partners (DHL offer carbon offsetting options and UPS offer carbon neutral shipping).

Improve your packaging

Minimise packaging materials and prioritise recyclable or biodegradable options (Staze client, Envopap, make innovative packaging from discarded agricultural fibres and The Better Packaging Co. make biodegradable and compostable packaging).
Encourage suppliers to use sustainable packaging.
Implement reusable packaging systems.
Educate consumers on proper disposal and recycling of packaging.

Make responsible choices in business travel

Have virtual meetings where possible
Encourage use of public transport and carpooling (Route Zero is a great tool to compare the carbon footprint of journeys)
Direct flights: if air travel is necessary, choose direct flights to minimise layovers and reduce the overall carbon emissions associated with take-off and landing.
Efficient trip planning: consolidate trips and plan efficient itineraries to minimise the amount of travel needed.
Green vehicle rentals: if renting a vehicle is necessary, choose fuel-efficient, hybrid, or electric vehicles (we’re planning to try Green Motion for our next trip).
Sustainable travel policies: develop and implement company-wide sustainable travel policies to guide employees in making eco-friendly choices and promote a culture of sustainability.
Book eco-friendly accommodation: book environmentally conscious hotels or shared accommodation, like Airbnbs, that have lower emissions. To help you book environmentally conscious hotels, Staze is a platform that helps companies make net zero hotel bookings. Using Staze you can compare the carbon emissions of different hotels, just as you would compare their prices. Every booking made through Staze is offset for free, which means the platform invests in carbon reduction projects to counterbalance the emissions generated by your stay. Companies using Staze have reduced their emissions from hotel bookings by up to 70%.

Your next steps

To show your company is serious about sustainability and not simply using it as a buzzword, we recommend starting by measuring your carbon footprint (we used our friends at Zellar) and setting a science-based net zero target. By making conscious choices in business travel, energy consumption and waste management by using platforms like Staze, you can significantly lower your environmental impact while still achieving your business objectives.