By Johan Potgieter, cluster industrial software lead at Schneider Electric.
Johan Potegieter.
With COP 28 approaching, and the globe experiencing record highs and lows in temperature, organisations are now in earnest prioritising the move towards a greener, more sustainable business operations. The case has been made and our role as custodians for the environment cannot be overstated. However, going green also makes business sense, delivering tangible benefits such as cost savings, regulatory compliance, enhanced competitiveness, innovation, diversification, and enhanced brand reputation. It ticks several important boxes and should, if anything, incentivise business to take the next important steps to realise these benefits.
Interestingly a Harvard Business Review article published almost 30 years ago entitled It’s Not Easy Being Green argues: “… being green is no longer a cost of doing business; it is a catalyst for innovation, new market opportunity and wealth creation”.
By investing in green energy sources and implementing energy-efficient operations, businesses can reduce their energy consumption and save on energy bills − a no-brainer really. By implementing sustainable practices, organisations can enhance their competitiveness by again reducing costs, while increasing their operational efficiency and improving their brand reputation.
Going hand in hand with brand reputation is compliance and regulation. Investing in green energy sources and implementing more efficient operations will assist organisations in meeting regulations and avoiding penalties. Furthermore, this investment can also foster innovation and diversification by encouraging the development of new products and services within new, greener business models.
Financing greener operations
The above already makes a firm business case, but from a financial point of view the benefits are also significant. Here organisations can implement the following strategies towards greener, financial operations:
• Sustainable investing: businesses can invest in sustainable funds, portfolios or individual companies that prioritise environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.
• Implementing a green procurement policy: organisations can prioritise suppliers that have sustainable practices, and reduce the environmental impact of their supply chain by purchasing eco-friendly products and packaging. Organisations can also support sustainable purchasing by encouraging employees to buy eco-friendly products and office supplies which are in line with its green procurement policy.
• Sustainable financing: businesses can gain access to sustainable financing options such as green bonds or sustainability-linked loans, which are tied to sustainability targets and incentivise companies to improve their ESG performance.
• Carbon pricing: companies can implement internal carbon pricing mechanisms, which involve assigning a monetary value to carbon emissions to incentivise reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, to promote more sustainable practices.
• Reporting: organisations can report on their sustainability performance to stakeholders, including investors, customers and employees. This will improve transparency and accountability, bolstering a company’s reputation and financial performance.
Overall, a sustainable finance perspective requires a focus on long-term sustainable growth, integrating environmental and social considerations into its decision making while fostering a culture of sustainability within an organisation.
Buildings in Africa’s urban evolution Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Africa is now an urban continent. How does the continent mobilise to accommodate urban dwellers and maintain and implement critical infrastructure that allows for this expansion? Building management systems provide a tangible solution to optimise resource use, lower operations costs and ultimately contribute to a growing continent that also employs green practices.
Read more...Black Rock Mining centralises mining operations with AVEVA
IT in Manufacturing
Black Rock Mine Operations replaced and upgraded its existing infrastructure, and installed additional capacity to expand production from 3 to 4,6 million tons in three years. The new system is powered by a suite of AVEVA solutions.
Read more...The strategic role of technology in today’s economy
IT in Manufacturing
In an era of economic uncertainty and persistent market volatility, businesses are under immense pressure to manage costs while maintaining operational effectiveness. The role of chief information officers and chief technology officers has never been more critical, as they are tasked with leveraging technology not just as a tool for efficiency but as a strategic asset in navigating these turbulent times.
Read more...Minutes to meltdown: surviving a cyber attack
IT in Manufacturing
Commvault recently hosted its Minutes to Meltdown event. Led by the company’s security experts, this was an interactive and detailed ransomware attack simulation designed to help companies understand how to respond in the event of a cyber attack.
Read more...Siemens elevates automotive and aerospace simulation Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Siemens Digital Industries Software has announced the latest update to its Simcenter portfolio, delivering advancements in aerostructure analysis, electric motor design, gear optimisation and smart virtual sensing. These enhancements are designed to streamline workflows, accelerate certification and provide deeper insights into system performance.
Read more...Automation in 2025: Navigating manufacturing innovation without the risk
IT in Manufacturing
During 2025, a wave of innovative technologies is expected to disrupt and change the way IT is applied to automation systems. The challenge lies in balancing the reliability of proven techniques with the potential of new technologies, all while minimising and controlling risk. This article explores ways to approach the latest information technologies effectively in a manufacturing context.
Read more...South Africa’s AI revolution is here – but are we secure?
IT in Manufacturing
South African businesses are sprinting to embrace generative AI, lured by its potential to drive efficiency, productivity and innovation. But here’s the stark reality: without a rock-solid cybersecurity foundation, AI will become a Trojan horse, opening the floodgates to sophisticated cyber threats.
Read more...Duct and plant room air quality (PRAQ) sensors Schneider Electric South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
Schneider Electric South Africa offers a comprehensive range of SpaceLogic duct and plant room air quality sensors. These cutting-edge sensors are designed to enhance building air quality and energy efficiency by combining multiple sensing capabilities into a single unit.
Read more...The sensory reaction of the BMS Schneider Electric South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
Today’s building management systems cannot function properly without sensors. Like our senses, they are an integral part of operations that run silently in the background, almost taken for granted.
printer friendly version