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NC Insights – Relocation’s Impact on Carbon Emissions
October 3, 2023
If you’re a company with a global footprint, it’s likely you’ve had to relocate employees around the globe as part of your operations. From flights and housing to office space, relocation can increase your carbon emissions, both at the company level and for your individual employees.
While it’s a fact that relocation comes at an expense to the environment, there are ways to reduce your company’s footprint when moving employees across borders. This article will explore ways you can do that at an administrative or HR level as well as at the employee level. While some actions may seem small, the cumulative effect of your efforts adds up.
Think about sustainability from the start
Your employees will have a lot on their minds as they prepare for a big move abroad, and their personal carbon emissions may not be high on their list. It’s good to lead the way for your employees by communicating you’re a company that’s trying to manage relocation in a sustainable manner. Establishing this intention from the start can help set the tone for the many complex decisions that will come down the line.
While some trade-offs will likely have to be made, committing to sustainable choices wherever possible is a values-based practice that can help your organization attract and retain the right kinds of talented, committed employees. It’s not just optics or corporate social responsibility—it’s also good business.
Choose sustainable transportation choices
One of the single biggest contributions to a person’s carbon footprint is the amount of long-haul flights they take. While air travel may be unavoidable for crossing borders in this modern age, partnering with a travel management company (TMC) that has a well-documented sustainability strategy, such as CWT, can help optimize each flight and trip to limit your employees’ annual carbon footprint.
Encourage employees to tour prospective housing options or schools arrange flexible working options virtually, for example, instead of taking additional trips to do so, and so they can fly home and stay for longer periods each year, rather than taking multiple trips to see friends and family.
For regionally focused employees who do lots of short-haul travel, consider greener options, such as train travel, instead of flying. One benefit of relocating an employee overseas is that such regional travel can have a much lighter impact when compared to frequent long-haul trips from your HQ to meet international clients or partners.
Consider office and housing locations
If you’re opening an office in addition to relocating employees, be mindful of the distance your employees will have to travel from work to home. Walkable locations in densely populated areas will limit the use of a car, or eliminate it entirely. When possible, allow remote work to cut down on transportation usage as well.
In addition, renting apartments, housing, or office space in newer buildings can often mean making use of more energy-efficient dwellings. Newer buildings are likely to have been built according to more stringent sustainability standards, which is a boon if you’re looking to cut your carbon emissions.
When furnishing your office with furniture and equipment, consider rental or secondhand options. The longer you can extend the life cycle of an object or piece of equipment, the lower its overall carbon footprint will be. Many serviced office buildings will offer furniture and equipment as part of the rental agreement, eliminating the need to buy new stuff entirely.
Lastly, think about the energy usage of your new office space. Constant use of air conditioning or heating is carbon intensive, so think about ways to keep your energy usage low while still making your employees comfortable. Adapt to the local norms and practices of your region when it comes to keeping cool or warm, as they often are more energy efficient than artificial methods.
Encourage employees to discard responsibly
Moving tends to produce a lot of waste, from unwanted goods left or discarded after the truck drives away to electrical equipment and lightbulbs that can no longer be used in a new home.
As an employer, you should encourage and empower your employees to dispose of their unwanted items as responsibly as possible. Create a list of responsible debris clearance companies and methods, such as large bulky items that can be collected by the municipality and e-waste pickup by specialized recycling companies.
Allow a budget for any fees associated with this, including arranging pick-ups of unwanted furniture or appliances. And provide ample time off for your employees to get organized and move with intention before it’s time to board the plane.
It’s an exciting time to be a company with global operations, but it doesn’t come without a measure of responsibility. By thinking about sustainability and carbon emissions throughout the relocation process, you can cut down on your company’s contributions to climate change and empower your employees to tread lightly on the planet.
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