How can I reduce my energy consumption, rethink my supply chain, use the raw materials that I need? Which suppliers should I use? What should I do with my waste? How can I rethink the end of my products’ lives? The IDELUX Développement team can help you work towards a carbon-free business model.
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September 2020: one of the effects of “Covid” is that it has thrown our many dependencies into stark relief: the fragility of logistics chains, stretched out between all four corners of the world and broken up in the blink of an eye, dependence on fossil fuels, the intensive use of which is also a major cause of pollution and climate disruption. Added to that is the planned depletion of known reserves of large numbers of raw materials, and the deadlock of the endless build-up of waste that we can no longer export, and which costs money to process. The cherry on the cake is the new generation of customers who are starting to demand products and services that have been better thought out and are more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
In Belgian Luxembourg, as elsewhere, many businesses have anticipated these regulatory developments. To name but a few: Mima Films, Ferrero, Ampacet, Burgo, Stalbois, Solarec but also breweries, Achouffe and Orval, Q-Food, Scidus as well mass distribution, including AD outlets in Bertrix and Habay… The majority of businesses – whether small or large – embarking on a “low-carbon” transition have done so voluntarily.
The Walloon Region has introduced a series of subsidies and measures to make this transition easier for businesses. This kind of transition does not cope well with piecemeal measures, and demands a complete overhaul of different aspects of the business: energy consumption, CO2 emissions, mobility, product design, dealing with leftover materials, water management etc.
In praCTICE
Guillaume BURETTE, business adviser at IDELUX who specialises in “low-carbon” issues, has set himself the task of guiding you through the essential thought processes involved in preparing for your transition towards a “low-carbon” business and a circular, resilient economic model.
Supported by the IDELUX Développement team, he meets businesses and project developers in Belgian Luxembourg to offer them a low-carbon diagnosis of their business, free of charge (energy efficiency, renewable energy, fluorinated gases, circular economy, including short supply chains). This service – a diagnosis and a report – is mainly aimed at SMEs, very small businesses and sole traders. It is part of the De Minimis aid scheme. This means that businesses don’t have to pay a penny for this “low-carbon advice” service.
Alongside the CCILB, he will analyse the energy performance of your building and your machinery, your water usage, the legislation associated with fluorinated gases etc., to help you reduce your costs. He may also analyse your processes, identifying material flows, waste management, the logistics involved in procurement and distribution etc.
In terms of what comes into your business, he will help you look into the possibility of diversifying your suppliers so you will be less vulnerable to potential gaps in the supply chain, as many have experienced recently. When it comes to what comes out of your business, he will analyse how you can reduce the inherent cost of managing your business waste. He will suggest ways of diversifying your client portfolio and responding to their expectations more effectively.
As well as measures specific to your own business, he will identify actions that might help several of you together: buying raw materials, access to green energy, managing waste together etc. Group workshops will stimulate cooperation between the businesses involved in these kinds of actions.
AND THERE’S MORE…
In addition to the diagnosis, IDELUX Développement may be able to steer you towards specific help (accredited “chèques entreprises” and “chèques professionnels” to reduce your impact in terms of CO2, “chèques énergie” or “chèques économie circulaire”, as well as a subsidy paid by Wallonia to cover up to 75% of the cost of a professional).
If your low-carbon transition requires funding as well as expert advice, Easy Green products may help cover up to 100% of your needs. For example perhaps you want to replace your boiler with a model that consumes less energy, or your refrigeration system with one that runs on gas that emits less CO2. or you are thinking of installing solar panels etc. Maybe you don’t have the funds to make these kinds of investments? No problem, IDELUX Développement and Sowalfin can help.
By the way, did you know that the most successful businesses at the moment are the ones that have deliberately embraced this new low-carbon economy? Interested? Curious?
