The steps Belgian businesses must take towards more sustainable entrepreneurship 

Belgium is strongly focused on sustainability, being committed to the European Union’s climate goals, having an ambitious National Energy and Climate Plan, as well as very strong regional and local initiatives for the circular economy and waste management. Flanders and Brussels are particularly well-known for their dedication to sustainability, but challenges still remain, and more work is needed to reach all eco-friendly goals. This isn’t surprising, as all countries and regions still have plenty of room for improvement where sustainability is concerned.

In Belgium, these developments should focus on improving energy efficiency, implementing mobility that is not based on individual vehicles as much as it is now, and coming up with policies that are consistent and that can be built on top of the ones that preceded them. Most people and companies are, in fact, more aware of the importance of sustainability, but everyone should know about the effects of climate change and global warming in order to create long-term solutions and continue to improve existing ones. And since enterprises have much higher emission rates than the average individual, here are a few of the ways Belgian companies can become more sustainable.

Waste and consumption

The fact that the Earth’s resources are consumed irresponsibly is not a secret to anyone and is one of the leading causes of climate change. If companies want to become more sustainable, the first thing they need to do is to look at the way in which they’re using raw materials across all processes, from manufacturing to administration. You can start by making sure all the items and materials you no longer use are properly recycled instead of ending up in landfills.

This way, new objects can be made from them instead of raw materials being extracted once again. Balers and compactors from Miltek can be used for your plastic and cardboard, with the former being particularly well-known for its negative effects on the environment. Plastic is incredibly hardy and can last for hundreds of years when thrown away, with a sizable portion of it ending up in oceans, where it is very harmful to the well-being of marine life.

People suffer as well, as the moment it starts breaking down, plastic turns into microplastics, tiny fragments that end up ingested and even inhaled. While the full scope of their effects on the body is not yet fully understood, the consensus is that they can increase the incidence of chronic disease or exacerbate existing conditions. Apart from recycling, you should also make sure that you don’t use more items or materials than you actually need. Reducing and reusing are just as important as recycling.

Industrial heat pumps

Industrial heat pumps are large-scale devices that capture low-grade waste heat from industrial processes and bring it to temperatures that are more appropriate for the industrial landscape. Using them allows you to decrease your company’s energy costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and replace fossil fuel alternatives. Ideally, the electricity you utilize will come from renewable sources, though, so that you can actually be more energy efficient. If you’re committed to decarbonization, you should definitely consider integrating an industrial heat pump.

The good news is that this solution is also adequate for the majority of Belgium’s enterprises. Since they can swiftly achieve temperatures of up to 700° Celsius, most corporations can use them with no issue. However, in the case of the enterprises working with steel and cement, where temperatures of at least 1,400 °C must be achieved, more work still needs to be done. But even in these industries, it is very much possible to reduce emissions by focusing on the lower temperatures first, where more sustainable solutions can be implemented.

CCS

Carbon capture and storage, also known as CCS, is a procedure that includes separating carbon dioxide in industrial installations before it can be released into the atmosphere. It is then transported to a storage location where it can be kept over the long term. The sites can hold CO2 for thousands, if not millions of years, with estimations showing that more than 99% of the injected carbon can be retained in well-managed facilities. The sites have been specifically designed to isolate carbon, with regular screening and ongoing monitoring implemented in order to verify if there’s any leakage.

The carbon is typically transported to deep underground locations like depleted gas or oil fields, saline aquifers, or other geological formations that are deemed suitable for the task. But CCS is quite controversial itself. Its opponents argue that it provides fossil fuel users with a way to avoid responsibility despite the fact that they are the main culprits of the climate crisis. It is true that switching to renewable energy is a must and that companies should not rely too much on carbon capture and storage. In fact, recent data indicates storage capacities are much lower than initially assumed.

There are no easy ways out of the climate crisis, and business owners shouldn’t believe there’s a simple solution or they risk not making any impact at all. For some sectors, including the lime, cement, and chemical industries, CCS will be imperative, though. Over the years, electrifying the processes will most likely become more feasible, but storage is a more short-term solution until the costs of going electric cease being as elevated.

The future

The next five years will be crucial in the fight against climate change and global warming, so it is essential for entrepreneurs to show their commitment right now. The necessary infrastructure must be in place as well, so that companies can access renewable energy and recycling solutions and put them to good use. The more research continues and develops, the more solutions there will be, and business owners can expect their enterprises to become increasingly sustainable.

To see results, you must be committed to sustainability. Remember that you cannot achieve much in a day and that continuous assessments are needed so that you can figure out how to improve. Your competitors will invest in green development as well, and customers are much more likely to pick businesses that are committed to eco-friendly policies, allowing you to be more successful in your niche.