Carbon Footprinting - Essay Example

Carbon Foot printing Name of Student Name of University Date Outline Introduction and Aims Strategies Conclusion References Introduction Carbon footprint is a measure of the total amount of greenhouse gasses that is directly and indirectly caused by an activity or is accumulated over the life stages of a product. HP is equally determined to reorient its operations to conform to more environmental sustainability. It is devoted to improving the environmental footprint through vigilant stewardship of energy and water resources while reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions. It has responded more acutely to the sheer environmental impacts of its activities. These include innovations and measures to reduce the impacts of its manufacturing process, water and energy use in its operations. It also focuses on measures aimed at reducing its contributions and other external impact on climate change. It targets the use of more environmentally friendly products by its customers. The company has continued to report own figures on greenhouse gas emissions. The company has its approach to implementing a multi-pronged program that addresses climate change through lower carbon products and flaring reductions, enhancement of biodiversity, developments in water usage, and waste and air emissions managements. It also implements a number of energy efficiency programs in which it set a target for lowering gas emissions from its operations. Aims: - The aim paper is to discover strategies used to promote environmentally sound, economically fruitful, behaviorally suitable, and thoroughly responsible development which will serve as a model for other areas’ improvement. Strategies In this environment of extreme uncertainty, HP has taken the lead of making sure that it plays it s part in trying to maintain and implement programs that would reduce the impact carbon emissions on the environment by implementing environmentally sustainable and financially viable solutions. Some of the strategies used by the company are highlighted here. Increase Energy Efficiency and use alternative energy - Because of the amount of energy that is used to make this possible the use of the coal and diesel is the one that is widely used in manufacturing firms all over the world. However, the carbon emitted by these sources has a direct effect even on employees hence the move to change these to renewable energy like electricity, wind and solar energy. This means that the company has to reinvest in new machines and expertise as well as equip the employees to perform with the new mode of operation. The company has changed to renewable energy for Greenhouse Gas Emission reduction. The company has sourced it power from nation grid for its production reducing the dependence of oil which is involved in increasing greenhouses gases. The company has installed solar panels to aid in collecting alternative energy. The carbon added to the environment because of the heat produced by the burning processes on the earth is much larger than the carbon emitted through the normal process. The amount of emissions in the environment has been increasing that is why the environmentalists have started to worry about the impact that the carbon cycle will have on the environment in the future. Environmentalists emphasize on the fact that the emissions of the carbon should be reduced through efficient fuel consumption and elimination of products that are burning something in one way or the other. The HP wants to optimize each and every policy for escalating conservation and energy effectiveness to reduce swells in electrical energy and natural gas demand. Secondly, indentifying that new production is essential as well as wanted, the bureaus would like to observe these wants met initially by renewable energy resources and circulated production. Recycling is the utilization of natural resources efficiently and wisely, by reusing resources that can be reused. Recycling is a global concern presently due to the increased environmental pollution and exhaustion of natural resources. Recycling should be an individual incentive for the global goal to be achieved collectively. There are certain resources that can be recycled while others cannot. In the HP, recycling is encouraging especially the use of cartridges which are returnable containers. Indeed, as the HP products entails effluent and discharge at all stages of the supply chain, it is important to note that unless detailed plans are put in place, the various methods of treatment and containment of emissions and effluents are likely to escalate. The company has seen an increase towards the awareness and participation of recycling activities around products of the company, however, more is needed to maintain and continue to develop sustainable practices towards the vitality of the environment. Recycling is a factor that needs to be addressed globally by relevant parties, individuals and authorities. Recycling can only be implemented through the establishment of effective and realistic policies. HP has an established Green Policy, which is aimed at promoting recycling and motivating customers and relevant stakeholders to recycle. HP is has reduced emissions by the use of low energy consuming equipments.  This is an easy way of cutting energy costs and save the environment of pollution, it uses eco-friendly light bulbs for security lights which consumes negligible levels of electric power than incandescent. Not only will selecting they save an individual from high electricity bills over the time a bulb is used before gets damaged, it equally will enable such consumers to play a pivotal role in the elimination of greenhouse gases pollutants. Due to the fact that mostly the average manufacturing building contains an estimated 50 light bulbs, this can transform into incredible savings. Additionally, the durability of a fluorescent bulb is ten times the lifespan of incandescent. This effectiveness also limits the level of pollution caused in the production of that source of energy. When electric power is generated by power plants using coal, the factories release carbon dioxide gas and other ecologically unsafe materials that trigger climate change, result to smog, and exacerbate respiratory illnesses. All businesses use energy in one way or another in production of goods and services. This is especially those that deal with manufacturing and processing of consumer products such as HP and so on. The choice of whether to use the environmentally friendly energy is slowly being eliminated. The world is moving towards a more urbanized population hence more industries required for more production to staidly the growing market Another strategy is reducing greenhouse gases by involving in communal environmental activities like planting of trees and discouragement of the usage of plastic bags that are not reusable. The company has comprehensive sustainability Plan that envisages total compliance with the existing laws and regulations about environment protection. Waste Treatment is another strategy adopted by HP. The company has invested substantially in recycling of waste and treatment of effluents at source to prevent flaring and its associated harmful effects. The company has divides waste at source, treats effluents, and control of the discharge of dangerous chemicals to environment. This is in compliance with all aspects of the waste management system and is in conformance with the various environmental laws and regulations governing the same. Conclusion Carbon is also released into the atmosphere through other ways like respiration which is basically performed by plants and animals in which carbon dioxide and water is broken down that is also known as an exothermic reaction. When we talk about carbon cycle there are many other examples apart from forests such as when the cement is produced there is a release of limestone which is heated to become a component of cement and carbon dioxide is released. Similarly, when the ocean surface becomes warm, the carbon dioxide which has been present at the surface of the ocean can be dissolved back into the atmosphere. So generally, in every way, they are affecting the environment. In the case of volcanic eruptions, a lot of gas is release into the atmosphere. Hence, carbon is always said to be an essential part of life on earth as it is very much common in all the living cells. Similarly, when we talk about the carbon cycle affecting the environment we also talk about the carbon footprints refers to the emission of greenhouse gas that are caused by any organization a person or a product. Carbon offsetting is the only way you can help reduce the emissions of the carbon footprints. Similarly when we talk about the neutrality of carbon, it refers to the process that will balance the carbon emissions in the environment. Carbon neutrality or zero carbon footprint refers to the process in the balance in the environment is to be created by a strategy to balance the emissions in the energy and transportation sector. Carbon neutrality is used in the production of energy and processes of the industries too where the basic purpose is to save the environment from going into further degradation. It is expected therefore that the businesses will face long term and short term implications if they adopt the new energy that is on low carbon end. In the short term there may be a characteristic shakeup of the human resource and employees as well as the profit margin because of the affected production of the goods. However, in the long run the gains and benefits are many and sustainable in all aspects of the business. The immediate implication is that there is an expected short-term fall in productivity at that time when the business is adopting the lower cost but also lower energy emitting fuels References Collins, J. (2006). Climate change: An environmental and business issue. Business & Economic Review, 53(1), 3-10. Farley, J. (2011). The scientific case for modern anthropogenic global warming. Retrieved on April 18, 2012 from< http://monthlyreview.org/2008/07/01/the-scientific-case-for-modern-anthropogenic-global-warming> Hewlett-Packard Development Company (2013). Environment. Retrieved on April 18, 2012 from Jackson, F. (2010). "Conquering Carbon: Carbon Emissions, Carbon Markets and the Consumer." San Francisco: New Holland Publishers Uk Ltd, 2010. McKercher, B., Prideaux, B., Cheung, C., & Law, R. (2010). Achieving voluntary reductions in the carbon footprint of tourism and climate change. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 18(3), 297-317. Rodrigues, F.D.(2010). "Carbon Responsibility and Embodied Emissions: Theory and Measurement." Chicago: Routledge. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2011). Greenhouse gas emissions. Retrieved on April 18, 2012 from Read More

The HP wants to optimize each and every policy for escalating conservation and energy effectiveness to reduce swells in electrical energy and natural gas demand. Secondly, indentifying that new production is essential as well as wanted, the bureaus would like to observe these wants met initially by renewable energy resources and circulated production. Recycling is the utilization of natural resources efficiently and wisely, by reusing resources that can be reused. Recycling is a global concern presently due to the increased environmental pollution and exhaustion of natural resources.

Recycling should be an individual incentive for the global goal to be achieved collectively. There are certain resources that can be recycled while others cannot. In the HP, recycling is encouraging especially the use of cartridges which are returnable containers. Indeed, as the HP products entails effluent and discharge at all stages of the supply chain, it is important to note that unless detailed plans are put in place, the various methods of treatment and containment of emissions and effluents are likely to escalate.

The company has seen an increase towards the awareness and participation of recycling activities around products of the company, however, more is needed to maintain and continue to develop sustainable practices towards the vitality of the environment. Recycling is a factor that needs to be addressed globally by relevant parties, individuals and authorities. Recycling can only be implemented through the establishment of effective and realistic policies. HP has an established Green Policy, which is aimed at promoting recycling and motivating customers and relevant stakeholders to recycle.

HP is has reduced emissions by the use of low energy consuming equipments.  This is an easy way of cutting energy costs and save the environment of pollution, it uses eco-friendly light bulbs for security lights which consumes negligible levels of electric power than incandescent. Not only will selecting they save an individual from high electricity bills over the time a bulb is used before gets damaged, it equally will enable such consumers to play a pivotal role in the elimination of greenhouse gases pollutants.

Due to the fact that mostly the average manufacturing building contains an estimated 50 light bulbs, this can transform into incredible savings. Additionally, the durability of a fluorescent bulb is ten times the lifespan of incandescent. This effectiveness also limits the level of pollution caused in the production of that source of energy. When electric power is generated by power plants using coal, the factories release carbon dioxide gas and other ecologically unsafe materials that trigger climate change, result to smog, and exacerbate respiratory illnesses.

All businesses use energy in one way or another in production of goods and services. This is especially those that deal with manufacturing and processing of consumer products such as HP and so on. The choice of whether to use the environmentally friendly energy is slowly being eliminated. The world is moving towards a more urbanized population hence more industries required for more production to staidly the growing market Another strategy is reducing greenhouse gases by involving in communal environmental activities like planting of trees and discouragement of the usage of plastic bags that are not reusable.

The company has comprehensive sustainability Plan that envisages total compliance with the existing laws and regulations about environment protection. Waste Treatment is another strategy adopted by HP. The company has invested substantially in recycling of waste and treatment of effluents at source to prevent flaring and its associated harmful effects. The company has divides waste at source, treats effluents, and control of the discharge of dangerous chemicals to environment. This is in compliance with all aspects of the waste management system and is in conformance with the various environmental laws and regulations governing the same.

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