Experts' Corner

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions – a joint effort with a positive impact

Saving energy and water consumption to reduce operational costs and boost efficiency have been an industry priority for decades. However, the pressure from governments, business and society to take more actions and address the negative impacts of climate change is growing. With the new EU Climate Law and increased customer expectations for sustainable solutions around the globe, companies are being called upon to determine their carbon footprint and set clear climate targets. The laundry industry is no exception to these developments as it is faced with the task of systematically reducing its environmental impact.

What are Greenhouse Gas emissions and why do they matter?

Greenhouse gas emissions are gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere that trap heat, raising Earth's temperature. Naturally present, they are crucial for life by ensuring a livable temperature on Earth. 

However, since the Industrial Revolution, human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes have increased the accumulation of these gases in the atmosphere, intensifying the greenhouse effect and causing global warming and climate change. 

This results in extreme weather, rising sea levels, and disruptions to ecosystems and agriculture, with potentially severe social and economic impacts. Reducing these emissions is critical to slowing down climate change and securing a prosperous future.

What is a company carbon footprint and why measure it?

A company's carbon footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly and indirectly as a result of its activities. Measuring it is crucial for understanding the company’s impact on global warming and climate change. It is essential for identifying opportunities to reduce emissions, enhance sustainability, and comply with environmental regulations or stakeholder expectations. 

Emissions are divided into three categories:

  • Scope 1:  direct emissions produced by a company from sources that it owns or controls. This includes emissions from activities such as burning fuel on-site (e.g., natural gas for heating) and fuel consumption by company-owned vehicles. Essentially, it's the emissions that occur from sources directly under the company's management. We also call them operational emissions.
  • Scope 2: indirect emissions associated with the consumption of purchased energy, such as electricity, steam, or heat, which a company buys from external sources. Even though these emissions occur where the energy is generated (e.g., a power plant), they are still considered part of the company's carbon footprint because the company is the end-user of the energy. They are therefore also part of our operational emissions.
  • Scope 3: indirect emissions that occur in the company’s up- and downstream value chain excluding those in Scope 2. While these emissions are not directly owned or controlled by the company, they are required for its activities, which is why the company is indirectly responsible for their release. These are emissions from third parties a company works with and can come from the production of purchased materials or goods, transportation, the use of sold products or waste disposal.

 

Emissions of a machine supplier

The main emissions sources are in Scope 3: according to the carbon footprint of JENSEN in 2024, 90% of the emissions happen in the use phase of the product (i.e., customer emissions) and 10% are caused by the production of goods we purchase to build our equipment (steel, components, etc.).

Emissions of a laundry

Internal research and feedback from customers indicate that a laundry's main emission source is upstream Scope 3 emissions, primarily from the production of textiles they purchase. This is followed by their operational emissions, which fall under Scope 1 and 2.

How is this relevant for our customers?

1. Less emissions = less costs: Effectively reducing our carbon footprint means lowering customer emissions, as they represent our largest source of emissions. This requires us to assist customers in implementing energy-efficient measures and optimizing operational practices, which will reduce the utilities costs of a laundry. These efforts have been central to our mission since the introduction of CleanTech in 2008.  

2. Meeting environmental targets: Since we share emissions with our customers, we can achieve common climate goals by working together. Our emissions are connected because each company must consider emissions in their supply chain, both upstream and downstream. This means customers should account for our emissions as their suppliers, and we should account for theirs. By helping reduce our Scope 3 customer emissions, we assist them in reaching their Scope 1 and 2 targets. In a similar way, by providing solutions that extend the lifespan of textiles, we help them buy fewer new textiles, effectively reducing their primary emission source associated with textile purchases. Our climate targets also benefit public-sector customers, aligning with tender requirements for carbon reduction plans.

Interested in learning more about our climate reduction targets? Check out our annual report.

3. Stay compliant and competitive: As regulations around carbon emissions and reporting grow stricter globally, businesses face pressure to ensure their entire supply chain complies with these standards. Customers need to choose suppliers with responsible carbon management practices to mitigate the risk of non-compliance with regulations and to maintain market competitiveness, especially in industries that prioritize sustainability.

The growing bureaucracy and escalating costs associated with environmental compliance and sustainability can feel overwhelming. At the JENSEN-GROUP, we turn sustainability into an opportunity. We provide the technology and expertise to optimize laundry operations and extend the lifetime of textiles, thereby helping customers increase profitability and reduce emissions. With smart solutions, data-driven insights, and our industry know-how, we can help customers turn ESG commitments into measurable results - so they can focus on running a successful laundry. Let’s move forward together.

Why does this matter for all of us?
Climate targets and regulations are more than just checkboxes - they shape the future of our industry and business. Laundries are making decisions based on sustainability, and that’s good for the environment and the bottom line. If we don’t adapt, we risk falling behind.

Reducing emissions is a shared responsibility. By working together, we secure our competitive edge and ensure long-term success for both our business and our customers' laundries.

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