Decarbonizing the global economy – how can the environmental remediation industry contribute?

We are in a collective race to reduce carbon emissions across all industries globally in the fight against climate change. The environmental remediation industry is no exception. Businesses that are undertaking environmental remediation projects can and must decarbonize their practices to help meet overall company ESG objectives and contribute to decarbonization targets. There are impactful ways that can significantly or gradually decrease the carbon footprint on environmental remediation projects at the corporate level and ways that each practitioner, vendor, and supplier across the supply chain can collectively contribute to lowering the carbon footprint.

While having a strong decarbonization plan is the foundation of the path to decrease carbon footprint for businesses, decarbonization tactics can be deployed on contaminated site remediation projects of all sizes. The following are five examples of ways to decrease the carbon footprint of an environmental remediation project.

Five ways to reduce the carbon footprint on contaminated site remediation projects

Data collection and management is a fundamental first step to determining how to reduce various sources contributing to a higher carbon footprint. By evaluating the quantities of waste generated, fuel used, quantities of products such as steel, concrete or plastic, we can determine how to improve these metrics. However reliable processes to document and report on it are crucial and need to be constantly improved for accuracy.  The ISO16064 series and the GHG Protocol are two credible methodologies that can be used to quantify GHG emissions both at the organization level or the project level.

Indirect emissions typically make up the majority (87%) of an industry’s emissions. Of those indirect emissions, purchased goods and services are often the biggest source, which means that the supply chain needs to be engaged in the process.

Product manufacturing has heavy carbon intensity and can be a contributor to a higher carbon footprint in the form of Scope 3 emissions for the remediation industry. Some suppliers have more sustainable business practices than others. For example, some suppliers offer recycled materials like steel or carbon media which can lessen the footprint. Thinking in advance during the planning and design stage can be helpful to identify sustainably focused suppliers. Since each business within the environmental remediation supply chain plays an integral role, they each need to be well versed in how they can do their part to provide necessary carbon footprint data and apply opportunities to reduce those carbon emissions through sustainable best practices. 

There are various ways to apply circular economy principles to an environmental remediation site or project. You can look for ways to reuse materials on site. For example, when demolishing derelict buildings, steel beams can sometimes be reused for reconstruction. Having a construction demolition plan in place to minimize waste and integrate waste reuse can lower carbon footprint. Another way to minimize waste that is specific to site remediation is to evaluate the type of biofilters used. They are a commonly used component to a remediation project that can create copious amounts of waste. However, some use organic matter instead of a carbon vessel which has a longer lifespan. Instead of absorbing contaminants, it biodegrades them and keeps operating for longer, which minimizes the overall amount of waste products. 

Fleet decarbonization strategies are not limited to traditional transportation sectors, but extend to all industries, including environmental remediation. Since gas powered vehicles produce CO₂, replacing gas with electric vehicles and electrifying fleets used on remediation projects lowers the overall carbon footprint.

One of the pivotal challenges is identifying the juncture where the operational cost advantages of zero emissions vehicles surpass the initial capital expenditure associated with them. Transitioning to decarbonized fleet requires a comprehensive roadmap to ensure all the logistical puzzle pieces are in place. A robust strategy for implementation can help detect and mitigate risks, determine proper combustions of technology and fuel types and meet specific needs for each fleet. In our report, The Shift, we identify a fleet decarbonization roadmap including planning, real-world testing, implementation planning and optimization for sustainment. 

Making the effort to look at different suppliers to find ones that are closer to the site with less transport and storage can decrease the emissions required for transportation of goods to the site. Assessing and identifying reliable local suppliers who align with your sustainability goals and can meet your quality standards is imperative. In addition to reducing transportation distances and thus reducing transportation costs and emissions, using local suppliers also promotes local resilience, strengthening the local economy. 

Planning and implementing sustainable remediation projects

Developing decarbonization plans that include carbon emission quantification methods will benchmark and measure progress towards sustainability goals. We are experienced with both establishing these plans and quantifying greenhouse gas emissions. As remediation practitioners, we bring practical solutions to help meet ambitious targets, whether it is mine reclamation, legacy industrial site closure, operation and maintenance of treatment systems, or excess soil management. With a thorough understanding of the processes, regulations and supply chains for these unique projects, we support the decarbonization of large-scale remediation projects, decarbonize their supply chains, and identify the best GHG reduction initiatives.