For today\u2019s companies, having a positive brand image is almost as important as making a high-quality product. Consumers are more attuned to reviews than ever before and want to support brands that align with their values, especially when it comes to social responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the 2022 Business of Sustainability Index<\/a>, 70% of Americans say that climate events from the past year have made them more likely to purchase environmentally friendly products. Having a good sustainability strategy presents an opportunity for your company to stand apart from your competitors and appeal to the majority of consumers who are concerned about climate change. A defined strategy may also position your company favorably with corporate and public sector customers that are prioritizing emission reduction across their supply chains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the EPA<\/a>, the transportation sector is now the leading source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the U.S., surpassing electric power generation. Figuring out how to reduce the tailpipe gases of almost 290 million vehicles will be crucial to meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. But what does sustainability look like for transportation fleets?<\/p>\n\n\n\n At its heart, a sustainability strategy should evaluate your company\u2019s environmental impacts and identify solutions that improve processes, conserve resources, and reduce waste and harmful byproducts. The mantra of: Measure, Reduce, and Offset suggests the general order of operations and the high-level process to follow. Sustainability is an iterative practice, and the specific goals, action items, and steps may vary for each company, but the most important action is just to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are four steps to creating an effective sustainability strategy. When done right, with honesty and transparency, they can make a significant (and positive) impact on your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first step is to educate yourself on GHG emissions and carbon accounting. The GHG Protocol<\/a> provides the universally accepted framework for classifying and reporting corporate emissions. Just like there are generally accepted accounting principles for how companies perform financial reporting, this protocol publishes the general rules for how a company tracks its emissions. A company\u2019s emissions, referred to as its GHG inventory, fall into three categories, or \u201cscopes\u201d depending upon the level of control and ownership over their release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scopes 1 and 2 are those emissions that you are most responsible for and have most direct control over. The distinction has to do with where the emissions physically occur, either directly from your own assets (scope 1) or from an offsite facility that provides your energy (scope 2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, the emissions from your company vehicles or backup generators would fall under scope 1, and the emissions from the electricity you use at your offices would fall under scope 2. Any other emissions that occur indirectly as a result of your business activities, such as airline emissions from corporate travel or manufacturing emissions within your supply chain, are classified under scope 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are public resources available to help explain this process, such as the EPA Center for Corporate Climate Leadership<\/a>, which offers a calculator tool. There\u2019s also an outline to help you get started, beginning with creating an Inventory Management Plan. This will formalize the process and organize responsibilities, including determining who will collect the data, how frequently, and where it will be stored. Having the data and calculations independently reviewed and certified will help to catch errors and add transparency and credibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do not be deterred if this all sounds daunting. As mentioned above, sustainability is iterative and it is OK to start small and expand as you go. Your scope 1 and 2 emissions will be much easier to calculate than scope 3, which even the largest firms struggle with, so start with these. These are sources you have the most control over, and will likely focus on your fleet and the electricity and gas consumption at your facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That which gets measured, gets managed, and data you collect here is necessary to establish your current, or baseline, emissions. This is the starting point from which to set your reduction targets, and will also reveal areas for improvement and cost saving opportunities alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Equipped with insights into your fleet emissions, by vehicle and\/or by driver, you can begin to identify ways to reduce the environmental impact. In the immediate term, pursue any \u201clow-hanging fruit\u201d opportunities to reduce fuel consumption by improving efficiencies. This will minimize emissions (and save money!) without requiring any changes to your current vehicles. Below are some relatively easy changes that can yield hundreds in savings per vehicle at little to no cost: <\/p>\n\n\n\n These are all actions that fleet managers can take today to minimize emissions without requiring changes to current vehicles. In the mid to long term, however, it may benefit your organization to make capital investments in newer, advanced technology vehicles. These vehicles may have little to no emissions, and could pay for themselves in a few years due to savings on fuel and maintenance. This is a rapidly evolving space, with more enhancements every year, including battery range and charger availability. Even if there aren\u2019t options available for your vehicle and duty cycle needs today, there may be soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next piece of your sustainability strategy is to consider using offsets for your fleet\u2019s remaining carbon emissions as a way to amplify your impact and meet the carbon reduction goals aligned with the science-based targets initiative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To do this, you can purchase certified carbon credits or build relationships with offsetting organizations such as PDI Sustainability Solutions<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Offsetting works by capturing and destroying greenhouse gases that are already in the atmosphere, or preventing future emissions from being released\u2014effectively canceling out what you\u2019re putting in. Examples of the types of programs you can invest in include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to make sure your organization is investing in high-quality carbon offsets that meet these requirements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Offsetting has a very direct purpose, but it can do more than simply reduce the carbon emissions left in the atmosphere. Working with local organizations or ones focusing on areas particularly susceptible to this type of pollution enables you to enhance an entire community and create new jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another important aspect to consider as part of your carbon offsetting project selection, is the UN Sustainable Development Goals<\/a> (SDGs) to ensure that your projects are not only chosen based on emission reduction potential, but also on their broader impact on society and the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The final piece to your strategy is to talk about what you\u2019re doing. Share your sustainability story with honesty and transparency, crafting messages that resonate with your target audiences. You should address employees, consumers, supply partners, and stakeholders to drive goodwill and brand loyalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To be transparent and accurate in all communications, you must understand the vocabulary of sustainable projects and prove the reliability of your data. Many consumers are increasingly educated about environmental issues, so make sure you\u2019re using the right terms. Don\u2019t claim to be carbon neutral if you\u2019re offsetting less than the data says you\u2019re putting out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To tell a strong story, it\u2019s best to address three key factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be honest about your carbon legacy and challenges you face, but remember it\u2019s also OK to celebrate accomplishments and milestones along your journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking action and talking about it produces a significant added bonus that goes beyond your environmental contributions. Your efforts can also positively impact your brand because consumers want to buy from companies that are already doing this kind of work. According to the 2022 Business of Sustainability<\/a>, 75% of Americans are concerned about the environmental impact of the products they buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By simply telling your sustainability story and being transparent in the work you\u2019re doing, you\u2019ll be able to improve your brand identity, increase your consumer base, and differentiate yourself from the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Building a strategic plan that will create organizational change should always start with the right research and data. Understand all the parts before compiling them into a complete strategy. The same goes for creating a sustainability plan for your fleet. However, sustainability is not an easy or simple task to take on alone. It requires an ongoing time and resource commitment. Leveraging a partner like PDI Sustainability Solutions that has expertise in sustainability strategies for fleet operations can be a great option to help you implement and manage your sustainability strategy. We can help you learn more about carbon emissions and offsetting<\/a> so you can achieve your strategic sustainability goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhere to Start<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Understand and Measure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Reduce<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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3. Offset<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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4. Communicate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The Benefits to Your Brand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Start Your Sustainability Journey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n