You have to agree, 2020 has been pretty crazy.
Not only with the coronavirus pandemic bringing almost every business and industry across the globe to a halt, but there’s also been extreme weather, forest fires and the collapse of Canada’s last fully intact ice shelf.
And it’s easy to kid ourselves into thinking this is somebody else’s problem.
But it isn’t.
It IS our problem.
The time for businesses to sit back is over.
It’s time to act on climate change now!
If we don’t act now, then nature is never going to recover.
That’s the warning from the World Wide Fund For Nature in their Living Planet 2020 Report.
Since 1970 alone, there has been a 68% decrease in population sizes of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians. Not just from hunting or overfishing, but also due to the destruction of their natural habitats.
And while the main headline-grabbers when the media talk about species facing extinction are animals like:
In reality, 500,000 insect species are on the verge of disappearing, an event which would be devastating for plants, crops, soil and other species which rely on other insects, bugs and microorganisms to eat as part of the food chain.
And if that wasn’t horrifying enough, there has also been an 84% decrease in the freshwater population in the past 50-years.
The Living Planet 2020 Report also explained how climate change could lead to future pandemics.
A staggering 60% of diseases contracted by humans start in animals, including SARS, Ebola and, as we’re all well aware, Covid-19 (unless you really do believe it comes from 5G masts).
Why does this happen?
Because with the destruction of the rainforests and natural habitats, wildlife is being forced from their home and farmed, hunted and eaten like never before, increasing the chances of cross-species infection.
It’s happened before.
It’s happening right now.
It will happen again.
So, what can business owners do to help reduce waste that’s contributing to this mass destruction?
There are plenty of immediate actions business owners can take to reduce emissions, like:
Recycling is another.
By disposing of office waste efficiently, materials which would otherwise end up in landfill or the oceans (and cause further damage to the environment and wildlife) can be destroyed, reused or recycled ethically.
The result?
Reducing the need to destroy more of the earth’s natural resources.
A great way to start is by calculating your current carbon footprint, which you can do in a matter of minutes on the WWF website. Or you can sign the #StandUpForNature petition, which is calling on the UK Government to stand up for nature at home and overseas.
Another way to do your bit is to make sure your business waste is recycled properly and isn’t just being picked up and dumped without care.
And the best way to do that is with a Certified Sustainable accreditation.
A Certified Sustainable accreditation gives you full control over the fate of your business waste. Not only are you audited by one of the leading waste management experts in the industry, but the waste management you employ is audited too.
Why?
So you can be sure that when your waste leaves your premises, it’s disposed of ethically.
You also gain access to the CS Portal, which gives you detailed audit results and strategies, including:
All of which allows you to receive a Certified Sustainable accreditation to prove you’re serious about your environmental duties and your commitment to saving the planet.
And as an added bonus?
The positive PR of doing the right thing can increase public confidence in your business and lead to new client opportunities too.
The time for business owners to sit back and wait is over.
Climate change is real and it’s happening now.
Thinking that your little bit won’t amount to much will no longer wash, because when you show your dedication to sustainable practices, others will follow.
Don’t wait…
