Page 52 - SyI Quarterly - Q3 and Q4 Edition 2023

Corporate Social Responsibility

Striking a Balance: Physical Security and

Environmental Sustainability

Emil Irimescu CSyP

Challenging the idea of increasing CO2e footprint based on reshaping the security industry, we can ask
ourselves, which is the baseline? What is the baseline against which we increase CO2e emissions using
more and more technology? To be honest this is a tough question. This is because it is difficult to
estimate the baseline level of CO2e emissions for a manned guarding activity, and in general for
services. There are a few elements that can be estimated, but overall the calculation process isn’t as
straightforward as it is in technology cases. For example, we can consider the carbon footprint of a
security guard’s uniform, or CO2e emissions connected to transportation. In general, the CO2e
footprint for services can be estimated based on: service specifics, accurate data collection, emission
factors identification, boundary scoping for assessment, and prioritisation of emissions sources.
However, these are only small parts of the entire picture.

In this context, the next natural question is what means and tools the security industry has at its disposal
to offset CO2e emissions. Again, we need to think about this question considering very clearly that from
an operational and financial perspective, the industry trend is clear, moving towards technology and
digitalisation in general.

The solution lies in highlighting the NET in the NET ZERO carbon target. The net-zero concept means that
any carbon emissions created by an organisation are balanced by other measures, to reduce the same
amount from the atmosphere. If zero carbon implies that no carbon emissions are produced by the
organisation (product or service), net zero means that carbon emissions are lowered by other measures.
Even if we optimize security solutions, energy consumption, and other factors that influence and deter-
mine CO2e, we cannot aim to have a Physical Security industry with zero emissions. The next years will
bring more and more technology into our industry, whether we are talking about hardware or software,
and this trend cannot be changed. So, the single possible way to offset CO2e footprint is by finding
indirect and alternative methods of reducing or eliminating CO2e emissions.

Therefore, we can state that the technological development of the Physical Security industry does not
directly contribute to environmental sustainability. Nevertheless, it is our responsibility to find and
implement measures to offset CO2e emissions while taking into account the operation and financial
benefits of the security industry’s expansion.

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