This summer, we are witnessing record-breaking high temperatures. As more individuals experience adverse health effects from heatstroke and dehydration, the demand for climate change prevention efforts rises. President Biden recently established a national carbon neutrality goal, supporting humanity’s and the environment’s protection.
Fortunately, renewable energy advancements help society maintain the modern lifestyle while eliminating atmospheric degradation. Reducing emissions supports eco-consumer values, developing a sustainable economy. Company success and natural resource conservation efforts may succeed when utilizing green energy.
Life Cycle Assessment
Many eco-consumers are conducting life cycle assessments on their products. If the goods or company attain a large carbon footprint, customers will take their money elsewhere. The review extends back to the product’s material origins and the initial energy sources.
Mining, extracting and outsourcing rare materials can significantly impact a product’s footprint. The building process additionally adds emissions to the assessment. If a company sources fossil fuel-driven energy, the footprint expands.
Eco-consumers also evaluate the distribution processes of materials, parts and constructed products. The transportation stage significantly impacts the sustainability of goods depending on their fuel source. In the U.S., the transportation sector generates 29% of all emissions.
Many companies lack the personal power to alter the material production process. They look for other pollution reduction methods outside of the initial stages, shrinking a product’s carbon footprint. New clean fueling options help companies reduce their impact through the transportation process.
Various companies utilize new zero-emission transportation methods, improving their sustainability. Conventional delivery practices significantly increase atmospheric degradation. Companies can use clean alternatives, improving their eco-consumer appeal, remaining competitive in their industry.
Biofuels for Transportation
Traditionally, businesses rely on diesel-driven fleets and delivery vehicles for product transportation. During combustion, the energy source generates high quantities of greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, environmental scientists and engineers developed a sustainable alternative deriving from recycled products.
When companies power their transportation processes with biodiesel, they decrease ecologically degrading waste on Earth’s surface. The energy source derives from repurposed cooking oils, like animal fat, grease and cooking oil. Biodiesel is also biodegradable, decreasing its adverse atmospheric and surface effects.
Small-scale delivery vehicles can additionally benefit from utilizing biofuels. Many companies are developing accessible bioethanol supplies. Unlike conventional fuel sources, bioethanol is renewable and creates a closed-loop system.
The energy solution derives from plant materials. During production, the vegetation filters carbon emissions, offsetting pollution associated with transportation. Many companies combine traditional gasoline with ethanol, decreasing the fuel source’s impact.
The combination decreases the ecological impact of the fuel source during combustion. It also supports various vehicles, reducing waste generation.
Waste Reduction Measures
Many business owners turned to electric delivery vehicles, eliminating tailpipe emissions. Though they successfully shrink a carbon footprint, they also increase surface pollution. When companies abandon conventional vehicles, landfills expand and pollute local soil.
Biofuels are compatible with current vehicles on the market, decreasing automobile waste. Their use of repurposed oils additionally reduces waste. During disposal, fats, oils and grease (FOG) can generate ecological destruction.
When poured down the drain, the substances can harden, causing a block in the system. Damages to sewage and drain pipes can generate overflow and runoff, polluting local ecosystems. Converting FOG to fuel can decrease impacts and shrink a company’s footprint.
Companies also source transportation energy from municipal solid waste (MSW), further reducing surface pollution. They extract hydrogen from MSW, powering fuel cells. Unlike conventional processes, fuel cells generate zero emissions while powering vehicles.
They set a high expectation for zero-emission delivery services. Fuel cell energy is less compatible with conventional vehicles than biofuel, making it less sustainable. Fortunately, as society recognizes the ecological issues associated with commercial transportation, they generate a technological push for sustainable advancements.
In response, Amazon announced its emission reduction efforts by using electric drone delivery services. Though the system remains in the production phase, we can expect other companies to adopt sustainable measures this decade.
How Consumers Can Help
In America, we can vote with our dollars. Citizens can initiate sustainable change by supporting zero-emission delivery companies over less eco-friendly alternatives. Before making a purchase, look for biofuel, or zero-emission, driven delivery services.
When consumers generate a demand for environmentally protective company practices, businesses will respond. Utilizing biofuels can help a business remain competitive in its field.
About the author: Jane works as an environmental and energy writer. She is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Environment.co.
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 