Air pollution is slowly destroying our planet. Roughly 7 million people die every year as a result of breathing harmful chemicals in the air. Some of these pollutants are also directly responsible for the depletion of the earth’s ozone layer, which helps to filter out UV radiation from the sun. Air pollution also affects soil quality and water quality, poisoning and killing off various plants and wildlife.

A large amount of the world’s air pollution has been created by industrialization. Fortunately, running a successful business in 2021 no longer relies on pumping huge amounts of pollutants into the air - there are eco-friendly ways to run your business that can help to reduce harmful emissions. Below are just five ways your business can help to reduce air pollution.

Switch to sustainable energy sources

Burning fossil fuels to create electricity results in huge emissions of carbon dioxide. Switching to a sustainable energy source can help to combat this - the likes of wind power and solar power don’t create any emissions and are therefore a much cleaner energy source. Consider whether it’s possible to install solar panels on your premises or install a wind turbine. Even if you’re only able to generate half your company’s energy from these sustainable sources, you’ll still be making a positive impact. You could also save money in the long run by reducing your energy bills.

Filter out harmful pollutants from industrial machinery

If you own industrial machinery that produces harmful emissions, it’s important that you introduce methods of reducing these emissions. Air filtration systems can help to remove harmful pollutants so that they don’t enter the atmosphere. Such systems needn’t cost a lot of money - used industrial dust collectors can be surprisingly affordable to install. On top of reducing environmental damage, filtering out pollutants could help to protect the health of your employees. 

Conduct more meetings virtually to reduce unnecessary travel

Every car journey and plane journey you take for business is pumping more emissions into the air. Where possible, cut out the need to travel for meetings by hosting virtual meetings instead. A Zoom call could allow you to talk to someone on the other side of the country (or even the world) without producing any carbon emissions - and it will also dramatically cut costs. You can even host presentations, tours and demonstrations via video call. 

Allow employees to work from home

Forcing employees to commute to your work premises could be contributing to air pollution too. This is particularly the case with those that drive to work. If the nature of your work permits it, consider allowing employees to work from home. You’ll not only be reducing emissions, but you’ll help to save your employees time and money spent commuting. 

Promote green shipping/delivery methods

If you deliver products to customers, this too could be adding to your carbon footprint - every car, truck, ship or plane that has to carry your product is releasing emissions. Where possible, try to promote greener shipping methods. Consider offering incentives for choosing slow delivery over fast delivery to reduce the need for air transport. You could also try drop-shipping to reduce emissions. When it comes to local deliveries, consider whether you can use green vehicles or even delivery couriers on bicycles. 

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