Reducing Carbon Footprint In Your Sales Team

Your sales team should be a good pick if you’re looking to become more sustainable but don’t know where to start. Here are 6 ways to reduce your carbon footprint and align your mission to sustainability goals.

1. Take Advantage of Telecommuting

Despite its modern nature, telecommuting can be a glimpse of an innovative work and sustainability model of the future. The popularity of telecommuting positions began once technology started improving and home computers could do what offices can.

There was a dramatic increase in telecommuters following the financial crisis in 2008 and then full remote work by the time of the pandemic. Remote work, becoming increasingly popular, could allow companies and employees to increase productivity and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.

Remote working has many sustainable benefits, including reducing the use of fossil fuels and the emissions of greenhouse gases associated with transportation. Using telecommuting also eliminates the need to build large commercial buildings and use their energy and resources.

Sales teams don’t need a lot from offices. They can do their work at home, travel to client offices, or do virtual meetings without issue. This cuts their transport emissions and corporate energy consumption.

2. Improving Productivity Through Automation

Automation and AI are the future, and sales teams can take advantage of them. Despite what some believe, robots won’t replace humans. Instead, they will work together with us to improve processes and productivity.

Sales teams can use them to their advantage by leveraging AI tools that help conserve carbon expenses. Many tools exist to help sales teams engage better with customers, which improves productivity. There are also AI-powered systems that reduce repetitive work, saving you time. Less work time mostly means less energy consumption for your sales team.

The use of automation can reduce energy bills and CO2 emissions significantly, as even the temperature of the water in the shower can be monitored and automated based on the ambient temperature.

It is also possible to reduce energy consumption by scheduling some operations during nonpeak hours. Simple things like programming data crunching and sales insights to run at night can make a big difference to one team’s carbon footprint.

3. Eliminate Paper

Sales teams use a lot of paper. They print documents, presentations, and reports, which waste paper, energy, and resources. From receipts, contracts, and invoices to meeting agendas, to business cards, paper is a huge part of sales.

Studies show that one metric ton of paper product generated 942 kg of GHG emissions based on the production weighted average (kg CO2eq). Paper grades had varying greenhouse gas emissions, from 608 kg CO2eq per metric ton to 1978 kg CO2eq per metric ton.

Consider ditching paper for digital solutions. This is not only a more eco-friendly approach but also more efficient. Companies can implement digital sales processes to minimize the use of paper.

Instead of printing, sales teams can use a digital sales platform to help them with sales processes. These tools also help with tracking sales data and gathering analytics. At the very least, sales teams can scan documents into a cloud drive or use a document management platform to store files.

Aside from their environmental impact, digital sales platforms also improve efficiency. Sales teams can work smarter and achieve better results with more efficient processes.

4. Use Energy-Efficient Tech

Electronics use a lot of energy and resources, especially technology used by sales teams. Everything has a carbon footprint, from laptops, smartphones, tablets to printers, projectors, and office supplies.

Sales teams can reduce energy consumption and productivity loss by using energy-efficient tech. Many products may claim to be energy efficient, but companies need to look for certifications that prove those claims.

Energy Star and EPEAT are two certifications to look for when purchasing electronics. Energy Star is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) voluntary program that helps consumers identify energy-efficient products. EPEAT manages the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, a global registry for greener electronics.

Energy Star products show how much energy they save compared to similar products. EPEAT offers environmental ratings for electronics. Those that earn the Gold rating have 75% less impact on climate change than standard electronics.

5. Encourage Recycling

Recycling is one of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Sales teams, especially those in offices, can recycle a lot of material in their immediate vicinity, including paper, plastic, glass, cans, and electronics.

Recycling is not only good for the environment but also for the company. These programs can save companies money and reduce garbage pickup costs. It also reduces the team's resource consumption for office supplies and other materials.

Companies that recycle can also earn green credentials, which is a marketable position for your team. It shows that your company cares about the environment and is taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint. Companies that have high levels of recycling are more likely to outperform their peers due to high-quality recruits and positive green culture within the team.

6. Encourage Green Office Week

Many employees spend the majority of their time at work. Thus, it is important to maintain an eco-friendly office. This would improve employee productivity, reduce energy expenses, and help the environment.

Green office week is an initiative that many companies encourage employees to adopt environmentally-friendly habits. The week, usually one whole week, focuses on educating employees on sustainability practices in the workplace. It can focus on specific topics, like recycling, using less energy, or conserving water.

The Green Office Week can be an excellent way for sales teams to adopt sustainable habits. They can start with simple steps, like turning off the lights when leaving the room and powering down computers at the end of the day. There are also many fun activities that you can add to improve the team’s camaraderie.

Final Thoughts

Sales teams can adopt sustainability practices to improve their performance, reduce their carbon footprint, and support the objectives of the company. Take the initiative to incorporate sustainable habits by taking advantage of many different techniques. Follow these tips and your team should be good to go.