5 ways video communication can actually fight climate change
For the last decades, technology has fundamentally changed the way we live, work, relate to one another and to the external world. It has also become a way to take more responsibility towards our environment and the way we use the planet resources.
Philip Perry from Zoom Communications, explain how we can start protecting the environment thanks to video communication.
Saving Energy
Flying or driving and staying in hotels use lots of energy, which inevitably generates carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change plus air pollutants that lead to smog. According to a report commissioned by the Carbon Disclosure Project, video communications can avoid millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions related to travel.
Reduce Paper, Printer Ink and Toner
In-person meetings are often littered with excessive paper documents, plastic water bottles, and plastic and packaging that can’t be recycled.
Reducing paper consumption is another significant bonus of video communication. Rather than print out paper documents for each in-person attendee, agendas, memos, reports, edits, and recommendations can be shared digitally, eliminating the need for any paper.
Limit Food Waste
Most face-to-face conferences end up providing two or three meals per day, plus snacks and a cocktail hour of some sort. Ideally, the leftovers would be picked up by a soup kitchen or food bank. More often, they’re just thrown away. If you’re sitting in on a video meeting at your desk at home or in the office, you’re probably eating what you’d normally have, and wrapping up the leftovers for the next day.
Skip Plastic
Most meeting organisers make sure all attendees have an unlimited supply of bottled water. But what happens to all those throwaway bottles when the conference is over? When you’re sitting in a video meeting, you’re more likely to use a water glass or reusable mug.
Save Time and Increase Flexibility
One major benefit of video communications is that it saves so much time. How often have you travelled 24 or 48 hours for a meeting that lasts no more than three hours? If you have small children, a growing business that’s hard to leave, or other professional or personal obligations, being able to attend a meeting virtually without having to leave home or the office, can reduce stress while still allowing you to meet your obligations and while enjoying a healthy work-life balance.
Video communication does help the environment and makes sense for SMEs and bigger companies. Whether you’re motivated to reduce your environmental impact, save money and time, or increase flexibility, adopting some form of video communications is a great way to get started and be part of the fight against climate change!
