Sustainability has been a growing focus for businesses globally for many years. As such, facilities management...
What are carbon emissions?
Carbon emissions occur when carbon-based materials such as fossil fuels are burned, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere. Carbon emissions are one of the biggest contributors to climate change, being a key greenhouse gas which traps heat and warms up the planet. Did you know that 1 tonne of carbon emissions has approximately the same weight as a great white shark? When people discuss a tonne of carbon emissions it is hard to imagine what this looks like. Whilst it may not seem like a gas can weigh that much, a tonne of carbon dioxide has the same weight as a great white shark or 400 bricks. It’s also the equivalent of powering a UK household for three months.
Carbon emissions in cleaning & facilities management industries
Carbon emissions can be generated through various day-to-day operational activities across the sector. Just some of the key areas include:
Energy usage in buildings: HVAC systems and lighting solutions all require substantial amounts of energy to keep a building in a fit state for its employees. This can account for a large portion of a company's carbon footprint across the year.
Transportation & logistics: A lot of cleaning companies need to transport cleaning teams, equipment and supplies between various sites. A single diesel van can emit several tonnes of CO2 each year, if driving approximately 10,000 miles. Employee commuting will also contribute to carbon emissions, whether that is by car, bus, train or plane.
Machinery energy usage: Cleaning equipment such as vacuum cleaners and pressure washers will use electricity or fuel. Also, carbon emissions can come from old, inefficient equipment which uses more energy, leading to higher carbon emissions.
Supply chain emissions: The production of carbon is embedded into the production, packaging and transportation of cleaning products and materials supplied to cleaning teams.
How are NJC reducing carbon emissions?
Until we become entirely carbon neutral at NJC, we are committed to carbon offsetting. We have therefore partnered with Ecologi to support a range of projects that are focussed on reducing or avoiding greenhouse gas emissions. These projects are certified to the very highest level by Gold Standard, or the Verified Carbon Standard. Find out more about how we’re supporting onshore wind power in Sri Lanka and helping to reduce methane emission from landfills in Brazil.
Environmental & sustainability goals at NJC
The more sustainable we become as a company, the more sustainable our customers can be, too. How we help you achieve your sustainability ambitions is one of the key ways we measure our success when it comes to our own ESG goals. Some of our key carbon goals are:
- Total carbon footprint 591.85 tCO2e
- Target reduction of 200 tCO2e over 4 years
- Carbon reduction per employee 0.34 tCO2e
In 2022, we offset our entire scope of carbon emissions with the help of Ecologi against certified projects. We remain committed to further reducing our emissions at source in 2024. Discover more about our environmental and sustainability goals today.
NJC’s Carbon Metrics Report
Our Carbon Metrics Report puts our carbon emissions into perspective for everyone to understand, to support our goal to embed ESG into the heart of our company. One of our key wins is a reduction of 408.3 tonnes of carbon emissions in 3 years (2019 to 2022). Take a look further at our report to see what our total output is equivalent to:
