In this article, we’ll explain what biodegradable plastic is, the pros and cons, and better alternatives to help the environment.

What is Biodegradable Plastic?

In 2025, shifting to the use of more sustainable packing materials and attempting to go green are all ways that the average person and business take a step forward to fighting against climate change – such as by employing the use of biodegradable plastic. 

Biodegradable and compostable plastic are becoming increasingly common, as several businesses decide to revamp their packaging to offer more eco-friendly products – but how beneficial is biodegradable plastic, truly?

What is the definition of biodegradable plastic?

Biodegradable plastic refers to the ability for plastic to break down into substances, such as bacteria, fungi, and algae – in a short amount of time. 

💡 The main goal of biodegradable plastic is to speed up the process of plastic breaking down, as traditional plastics can take hundreds of years to fully decompose – biodegradable plastic can be broken down into natural elements such as water, carbon dioxide, and biomass.

If a technology is elegant, biodegradable, made from renewable materials and employs a minimum of muscular, water or wind energy, is responsive, beautiful in its way, and challenging to the user in that it develops the user's senses and strength - it may comport with nature. – (Stephanie Mills from from Counterpunch).

This week, the truth about “biodegradable plastic,” and new insights into how global warming might eventually make winters colder.

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Sources:
http://www.livescience.com/32233-how-...
http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/p...
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_release...
http://cen.acs.org/articles/93/web/20...
http://ei.cornell.edu/biodeg/
https://books.google.com/books?id=EMY...
http://phys.org/news/2015-03-plastics...

http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/1...
http://www.eurekalert.org/emb_release...

The Truth About Biodegradable Plastic

How does biodegradable plastic decompose?

Biodegradable plastic decomposes as microorganisms will use the plastic as a food source, which will then break it down into simpler substances to be absorbed into the surrounding environment, such as a nearby body of water. 

👉 However, it is important to note that environmental factors also play a role – as humidity, sunlight, and temperature can have an impact on how fast biodegradable plastic decomposes.

There are two main types of biodegradable plastics: plant-based biodegradable plastic and petroleum based biodegradable plastic.

Plant-Based Plastics (Hydro-Biodegradable) – Also referred to as bioplastics, this type of biodegradable plastic can be made from renewable sources such as sugarcane, corn starch, and potato starch. Examples of this kind of biodegradable plastic include Polylactic Acid (PLA) and  Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA).

Petroleum-Based Biodegradable Plastics (Oxo-Biodegradable) – This type of biodegradable plastic is made from conventional finite resources, but manufactured to degrade faster than ordinary plastics – such as with Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate (PBAT).

👉 Biodegradable plastic is often used for packaging materials, agricultural films, and even for dissolvable stitches – demonstrating the versatility of biodegradable plastics and the opportunity it has to help reduce plastic waste across multiple industries.

What is the difference between biodegradable and compostable plastic? 

While both biodegradable and compostable plastics can break down into their surrounding environment, the two types of plastic are not one and the same.

💡 Biodegradable plastic is defined by its ability to break down, but may not always prove successful – whereas compostable plastic is developed and tested to ensure it will work when it undergoes processing in a composting facility.

What is the difference between compostable, degradable and biodegradable bags? People, often desperate to get it right, wanting to make greener decisions, still get it wrong due to the confusion over degradable, biodegradable and compostable plastics.... Check out this video and make the greener decision for a better tomorrow.. 🌿♻️🌍

Music: Wander 
Musician: iksonofficial

#compostablebags#zerowaste#degradable#biodegradable#plasticfree#plantbasedbags

COMPOSTABLE vs BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC | WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

Overall, the main difference between biodegradable and compostable plastic is their ability to break down into the environment.

Here’s a breakdown of the differences between the these two types of plastics: 

Ability to Break Down – Biodegradable plastic will often breakdown into smaller components with the help of water, carbon dioxide, and microorganisms – whereas compostable plastic is designed to breakdown into organic matter under a specific timeframe.

How the Plastics Break Down – Both biodegradable and compostable plastic require heat, moisture, and time to be decomposed – but biodegradable plastics can take years to fully degrade in natural surroundings, whereas compostable plastic can break down faster, although it requires an industrial setting to properly decompose. 

Necessary Certifications – Biodegradable plastic is not required to be certified to the same extent as compostable plastic, which is often required to meet industry standards such as EN 13432 in Europe and ASTM D6400 in the United States. 

Challenges of Each Plastic – Biodegradable plastics may leave harmful residue and not degrade entirely in landfills or oceans, whereas compostable plastics can end up in landfills if not decomposed properly.

The table below will compare and contrast the differences between biodegradable and compostable plastic:

<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="8">
  <tr>
    <th>Feature</th>
    <th>Biodegradable Plastic</th>
    <th>Compostable Plastic</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Breakdown Time</td>
    <td>Varies (weeks to years)</td>
    <td>Typically faster (weeks to months)</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Breakdown Residue</td>
    <td>Possible microplastics</td>
    <td>No toxic residues, turns into compost</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Conditions Needed</td>
    <td>May break down in natural settings</td>
    <td>Requires specific composting conditions</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Certification</td>
    <td>Not always certified</td>
    <td>Must meet strict standards</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Environmental Impact</td>
    <td>Can be unclear (if not fully degraded)</td>
    <td>More environmentally friendly</td>
  </tr>
</table>


👉 Ultimately, compostable plastics are a better choice for the circular economy as they can completely break down without leaving behind any residue – whereas biodegradable plastics may still contribute to plastic pollution as they do not undergo the same approval process as compostable plastics. 

What are the pros and cons of biodegradable plastic?

There are several benefits and drawbacks to the use of biodegradable plastic, such as how it can help to mitigate excessive plastic pollution – but it also requires specific conditions and could exacerbate the danger of misleading eco-labels.  

💡Although biodegradable plastic can help to avoid the negative effects of plastic lingering in our oceans and surrounding environment, it is important to note that at the end of the day – biodegradable plastic is still a type of plastic, meaning that it isn’t the most sustainable material or resource to be using in the midst of climate change.

This was demonstrated in a study conducted by Imogen Napper, where it was found that biodegradable plastic shopping bags were still present in soil a whopping 27 months after being buried – illustrating how biodegradable plastic still remains present in our environment despite being able to break down faster than traditional plastic.

After three years, I was really amazed that any of the bags could still hold a load of shopping. For biodegradable bags to be able to do that was the most surprising. When you see something labelled in that way, I think you automatically assume it will degrade more quickly than conventional bags. But, after three years at least, our research shows that might not be the case. – (Imogen Napper). 

All of this being said, there are still reasons to opt for the use of biodegradable plastic while keeping the disadvantages in mind.

Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of biodegradable plastic:

Reduce Plastic Pollution – As traditional plastic is currently responsible for a total of 3.3% of GHG emissions worldwide, biodegradable plastic, while slow at decomposing, can still help to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases created from traditional plastics burning in our landfills.

Decrease Dependency on Fossil Fuels – Since biodegradable plastics can be made from renewable resources, it can ultimately help to reduce the carbon footprint created by fossil fuels.

Mitigate the Use of Traditional Plastic – While biodegradable plastic still comes with its caveats, it can still help to reduce the impact created by conventional plastics – meaning that businesses and households alike could reduce their environmental impact if they were to switch to the use of biodegradable plastic. 

Necessary Specific Conditions Needed – While biodegradable plastic can decompose faster than traditional plastic, it still requires specific conditions – such as increased heat and select types of bacteria, in order to properly break down in natural environments.

Expensive – As biodegradable plastic is more expensive to produce than traditional plastic, as the average cost can be anywhere from $2 to $7 USD per kilogram – it can prove more difficult for companies to procure biodegradable plastic and ultimately provide customers with this more eco-friendly option when shopping. 

Misleading Labels – Since “biodegradable" may not always mean that the plastic will break down in all environments, people may be under the impression that if they opt for this material – they are helping to reduce their own environmental impact, when there could be more successful ways of accomplishing this goal.

Risk of Microplastics – A we’ve discussed previously on our blog, microplastics can severely impact our oceans and even be accidentally ingested by the food we eat or water we drink – and since some biodegradable plastics may break into tiny fragments, it could further contribute to microplastic pollution.

👉 Overall, biodegradable plastic is certainly a more viable alternative to the use of traditional plastics – but it still possesses several potential setbacks, such as by potentially contributing to microplastic pollution or proving to be too expensive for some companies. 

Why might biodegradable plastic not be the best choice for the environment?

Biodegradable plastic, while a better alternative than traditional plastic, can still end up in landfills and contribute to the release of methane – ultimately still contributing to GHG emissions.

💡This means that when bioplastics end up in the landfill, of which many do, they can contribute to potent greenhouse gases in the same capacity of PET plastic.

Marketing is highly abusive in this area. – (Taylor Weiss, researcher and assistant professor at the Arizona State University discussing the impact that misleading eco-friendly labels can have on our environment.”

Unfortunately, this hasn’t stopped big-name companies from insinuating that plastic pollution can be solved with biodegradable plastic – such as with Coca-Cola, from using vague terms to convince customers that their products are not contributing to further environmental harm. 

Luckily, to combat the effects of plastic pollution – Coca-Cola has committed themselves to recycle one plastic bottle for every bottle it sells by 2030. While recycling can help, such as in regions of the world like Europe where 41% of plastic was recycled in 2022 – efforts to encourage consumers to recycle plastic, even biodegradable plastic, could prove pointless in countries which value consumerism like the U.S. – where only 8.4% of plastic is recycled.

Additional reasons why biodegradable plastic may not be the best solution include:

The industrialisation process and carbon footprint created from the production of biodegradable plastic;

Biodegradable plastic  could contaminate existing recycling streams and make it more challenging to effectively process other recyclable materials;

Plant-based biodegradable plastic may use a large amount of finite resources such as water, land, and energy.

👉 As a whole, biodegradable plastic is surely better than traditional plastic as it has a better chance of being decomposed and mitigating excess GHG emissions – but there are still better alternatives than biodegradable plastic.

What are some alternatives to biodegradable plastic?

There are several alternatives to the use of biodegradable plastic, such as:

Reusable Items – Opting for a reusable water bottle, shopping bag, glass containers, stainless steel, or silicone for food packaging are all more eco-friendly alternatives to biodegradable plastic. 

Compostable Packaging – Materials such as bamboo, paper, or palm leaves will all decompose faster than biodegradable plastic. 

Paper-Based Products – Cardboard, paper bags, and molded fiber packaging are all easier to breakdown than biodegradable plastic. 

Adopting Minimalism – Perhaps the best alternative to biodegradable plastic is to opt for minimalism as a whole – such as by avoiding ordering something unless it’s essential, using reusable items, bulk shopping, purchasing package-free products, and cutting out plastic altogether. 

Overall, biodegradable plastic is a type of plastic that can be broken down into the environment faster than traditional plastic – but it still isn’t the most efficient way to support the planet or mitigate climate change.

If reading this article on biodegradable plastic has inspired you to consider your company’s own carbon footprint, Greenly can help.

At Greenly we can help you to assess your company’s carbon footprint, and then give you the tools you need to cut down on emissions. We offer a free demo for you to better understand our platform and all that it has to offer – including assistance on how to reduce emissions, optimise energy efficiency, and decarbonize your supply chain to help reduce plastic waste. 

Learn more about Greenly’s carbon management platform here.

https://www.worldwildlife.org/blogs/sustainability-works/posts/is-biodegradable-and-compostable-plastic-good-for-the-environment-not-necessarily

https://ecostandard.org/wp-content/uploads/Joint-position-paper_Bioplastics-in-a-Circular-Economy_Jan-2017.pdf 

https://europlas.com.vn/en-US/blog-1/how-biodegradable-plastics-break-down- 

https://natureplast.eu/en/biodegradable-plastics-definitions-and-standards/ 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9033233/ 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/606eb6518fa8f573570f6a81/standards-biobased-biodegradable-compostable-plastics.pdf 

https://www.european-bioplastics.org/faq-items/what-are-the-required-circumstances-for-a-compostable-product-to-compost/ 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/29/biodegradable-plastic-bags-survive-three-years-in-soil-and-sea 

https://e360.yale.edu/features/why-bioplastics-will-not-solve-the-worlds-plastics-problem 

https://ourworldindata.org/ghg-emissions-plastics 

In this article, we’ll break down what the Medieval Warm Period was, its impact on the world, and how the lessons we can use from then to fight climate change today.

What was the Medieval Warm Period (MWP)?

In the years before the Industrial Revolution, the planet went through significant periods of intense warming and cooling – otherwise known as the Little Ice Age (LIA) and the Medieval Warm Period (MWP). 

During the Medieval Warm Period, the world experienced generally warmer climates, which had an impact on agriculture, society, and more.

Definition: What is the Medieval Warm Period (MWP)?

Medieval Warm Period (MWP), also referred to as The Medieval Optimum, spanned between the 8th and 12th centuries AD – and is categorised as a time of warmer temperatures. 

💡 The warmest time period during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) is estimated to have been 950 to 1045 AD – with several surface temperatures tuning in at around 1 °C warmer than today’s modern temperatures.

In fact, the warmer temperatures are still marked today – especially across the continent of Europe, as many medieval churches, monasteries, and other monumental structures were built as a result of the more pleasant climate.

Like the Norse conquests, cathedrals too are a consequence of a global climatic phenomenon, an enduring legacy of the Medieval Warm Period. ― (Brian M. Fagan, The Little Ice Age: How Climate Made History 1300-1850).

Climate History: Medieval warm period

Key Characteristics of the Medieval Warm Period (MWP)

Varied Warming Across the Globe – In a similar sense to the Little Ice Age (LIA), warming was not uniform across the globe – as parts of Northern Europe and the North Atlantic were warmer than the Pacific region. 

Agricultural & Cultural Impact – The warmer weather in Europe allowed for agricultural expansion and population growth – such as how in Northern Norway, wheat and oats were grown around Trondheim, Norway and how Vikings took the warmer climate as an opportunity to colonise Greenland.

Topic of Interest in the Scientific Community – The Medieval Warm Period (MWP) has continued to remain an intriguing and debatable topic in the science community – as information is still being uncovered on how the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) began. 

👉The MWP is often compared and contrasted with the Little Ice Age (LIA), which occurred shortly after the Medieval Warm Period and had an opposite effect on the planet – as regions across the world, including North America and Europe, experienced exceptionally frigid temperatures. 

The table below will compare and contrast some of the social and economic impacts of the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and the Little Ice Age (LIA)

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Comparison of MWP and LIA Impacts</title>
    <style>
        body {
            font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
            line-height: 1.6;
            margin: 20px;
        }
        table {
            width: 100%;
            border-collapse: collapse;
            margin: 20px 0;
        }
        th, td {
            border: 1px solid #ddd;
            padding: 8px;
            text-align: center;
        }
        th {
            background-color: #f4f4f4;
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <p>This table compares the social and economic impacts of the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and the Little Ice Age (LIA):</p>

    <table>
        <thead>
            <tr>
                <th>Aspect</th>
                <th>Medieval Warm Period (MWP)</th>
                <th>Little Ice Age (LIA)</th>
            </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
            <tr>
                <td>Agriculture</td>
                <td>Improved crop yields; expansion of arable land in Northern Europe.</td>
                <td>Crop failures due to colder temperatures; shorter growing seasons.</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Population</td>
                <td>Population growth supported by surplus food production.</td>
                <td>Population decline due to famine, disease, and harsher living conditions.</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Economic Activity</td>
                <td>Increased trade and economic stability in many regions.</td>
                <td>Economic downturns, increased poverty, and migration pressures.</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Social Structures</td>
                <td>Relative stability and growth of feudal systems.</td>
                <td>Social unrest, revolts, and shifts in power dynamics.</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Settlement Patterns</td>
                <td>Expansion into higher altitudes and northern regions.</td>
                <td>Abandonment of marginal lands; retreat to lower altitudes.</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Health</td>
                <td>Better nutrition supported by abundant food.</td>
                <td>Increased disease prevalence due to malnutrition and cold weather.</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Cultural Impacts</td>
                <td>Growth of art, architecture, and education due to economic prosperity.</td>
                <td>Focus on survival; cultural stagnation in many areas.</td>
            </tr>
        </tbody>
    </table>
</body>
</html>


Timeline of the Medieval Warm Period (MWP)

The Medieval Warm Period is known to have started around 900CE and ended around 1250CE, right before the Little Ice Age came into play. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Medieval Warm Period:

Early Days of the MWP (Around 800–900 CE)

This is around when warmer temperatures were beginning to be more prominent across regions such as Europe, the North Atlantic, and even the Arctic – with temperature in the GISP2 ice core in Greenwald around  2°F (1°C) warmer than temperatures today.  

💡 Scientists estimate and have continued to study how the Medieval Warm Period may have started as a result of natural climate variability and additional factors such as solar output and volcanic activity.

Peak Warmth of the MWP (Around 950–1250 CE)

Considered “prime time” for the Medieval Warm Period, this is when temperatures were warmest and when certain regions of the world, such as Europe, benefited from the MWP the most. Primarily, this is the time period when urbanisation boomed, exploration increased, and agriculture thrived.

👉 However, it is important to note that these positive effects were not globally uniform – as some regions such as the Pacific remained stable or even cooler during the MWP, meaning they did not experience the same uptick in population or economic and agricultural spike as European countries did. 

Once the transition towards the Little Ice Age began, temperatures began to cool worldwide – as the negative effects of the Little Ice Age became more pronounced alongside decreasing temperatures. 

As a result, many cities in Europe experienced famines following a period of fruitful harvests – in addition to the end of Norse colonies in Greenland due to a lack of readily available resources.

How did the Medieval Warm Period impact the world?

The Medieval Warm Period (MWP) had an overall beneficial impact on the world, as crops were plentiful and population doubled in several cities across Europe. 

💡 Think of when it’s summer, everyone is by the pool, sipping a cool drink in hand – usually, people are in a better mood and are able to be both more pleasant and productive when the climate is temperate. The same concept applies to the Medieval Warm Period, as both people and the planet experienced temperatures more conducive to profitable prospects.

The heyday of the Norse, which lasted roughly from A.D. 800 to about 1200, was not only a byproduct of such social factors as technology, overpopulation and opportunism. Their great conquests and explorations took place during a period of unusually mild and stable weather in northern Europe called the Medieval Warm Period—some of the warmest four centuries of the previous 8,000 years. – (Brian M. Fagan, The Little Ice Age: How Climate Made History 1300-1850).

Climate Skeptics often argue that the Medieval Warm Period was as hot as today, and that a warmer world is better for agriculture and human survival. But is this true? In today’s video we take a journey through history to the middle ages, debunk this common climate myth and explain some of the science behind it.

When was it last this hot? Find out here:    • When Was it Last This Hot? (Climate C...   

Media Credits go to Pexels, Epidemic Sound and the NASA archive.
Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

Sources:

Global Temperature Reconstructions for the MWP:

An overview of the Medieval Warm Period/Climate Anomaly:
https://theconversation.com/climate-e... 

Central England data: https://skepticalscience.com/print.ph...

Mann et al. (2009): https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.11... 
Neukom et al (2019): https://www.nature.com/articles/s4158... 
Kaufman et al (2020): https://www.nature.com/articles/s4159...
Osman et al (2021): https://www.nature.com/articles/s4158... 
Pages 2K Consortium (2019): https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-019-04... 

Aridification and Megadroughts in the US Southwest:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s4155... 
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas... 
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases... 
https://www.livescience.com/66032-med... 
https://climatechange.chicago.gov/cli... 
https://toolkit.climate.gov/regions/s... 

Rapid Climate Change and Mass Extinctions:
https://ecoevocommunity.nature.com/po... 
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25... 
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073...

Debunking A Climate Myth | The Medieval Warm Period

Benefits of the Medieval Warm Period (MWP):

Here are some additional ways that the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) benefited society:

Cultural Impact – The stable and warmer temperatures allowed for a unique period of art, with intricate, Gothic cathedrals such as Notre-Dame in Paris and the Cathedral of Barcelona in the Gothic Quarter illustrating the conducive working conditions brought about by the Medieval Warm Period. Imagine: it would be a lot harder to carve such complex structures in the freezing cold!

Agricultural Expansion – The pleasant climates throughout the Medieval Warm Period allowed for European countries with typically cooler climates to yield more productive harvests – allowing for greater population growth and urbanisation, as there was more food to feed a growing community of people. 

Greater Colonisation – The mild temperatures of the Medieval Warm Period inspired people to explore their surroundings, which led to the settlement of Greenland and further exploration of North America, as they were less icy seas and travel was more pleasant with warm temperatures.

Economic Benefits – The increase of plentiful harvest helped to expand the global economy and develop new trade networks, which especially helped to stabilise the economy in Europe. 

Setbacks of the Medieval Warm Period (MWP):

Here are some of the ways the Medieval Warm Period (MWO) may have been a setback for society: 

Increase in Droughts – Although regions of the world such as Europe largely benefitted from warmer temperatures, other regions such as others, like parts of Central America, experienced prolonged droughts – such as with the Great Drought, which occurred from 1276 and 1299 and contributed to the collapse of the Mayan civilization.

Newfound Pressure – The sudden, temperate climate elicited a medium for greater agricultural production – which set the stage for future challenges in terms of developing resources, as the Little Ice Age (LIA) shortly followed and made it hard to keep up with the newfound success seen by the agricultural industry. 

Unpreparedness for Climate Shifts – As the Little Ice Age followed shortly after the Medieval Warm Period, the MWP made it all the more challenging for society to transition to exceptionally cooler temperatures – which lead to the increased famines, economic challenges, and social injustices during the LIA.

👉 Overall, the Medieval Warm Period was ultimately more beneficial than harmful – but it did make the Little Ice Age more jarring and challenging to accommodate.

How does the Medieval Warm Period compare to present day warming temperatures?

As a whole, the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) did not correlate to the same uniform increase of temperatures worldwide we are witnessing today.


💡 For example, the Pacific experienced cooling during the Medieval Warm Period, whereas today – the Pacific region has had a profound impact on coral reefs and even contributed to the development of toxic algae.

Presently available proxy evidence indicates that temperatures at many, but not all, individual locations were higher during the past 25 years than during any period of comparable length since A.D. 900. – (National Academies Press on study regarding climate change and the MWP.)

👉 In the end, the warmer temperatures from the Medieval warming period cannot be compared to the skyrocketing temperatures we are experiencing in present day.

What lessons can we learn from the Medieval Warm Period and apply them to fighting climate change today?

There are several lessons to be learned from the Medieval Warm Period, especially in the transition from the MWP to the Little Ice Age and how unpreparedness for a shift in climate took a toll on society. 

💡 In fact, this isn’t too different from the phenomenon we are experiencing today – such as continued, unprecedented wildfires, where the world is continuing to adjust to the newfound risks associated with climate change. 

Here’s what we should remain mindful of with climate change in present day following the Medieval Warm Period:

Global Economy is Impacted by Warming Temperatures – The Medieval Warming Period saw a time of lucrative success for the agricultural industry, demonstrating how moderate temperatures could help to stimulate the global economy in place of seeking to ramp up the search and production for finite energy sources.

Urbanisation is Dictated by Climate Change – Just as we saw during the Medieval Warming Period, warmer temperatures can elicit people to move – and even stop new settlements altogether. This isn’t too dissimilar from what we are currently seeing with the United States and people looking to relocate to states with less risk of experiencing natural disasters.

Readiness to Adapt is Key – It wasn’t the peak of the Medieval Warming Period that brought upon consequences, but it’s sharp end and unexpected turn into the Little Ice Age that spiked famines and social unrest. This depicts the same scenario as today, where our erratic weather patterns and unpreparedness is what causes the most harm. 

Overall, the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) represented a time of warmer temperatures, greater exploration in art and settling in new colonies, and fruitful economic and agricultural production.

If reading this article on the Medieval Warming Period has inspired you to consider your company’s own carbon footprint, Greenly can help.

At Greenly we can help you to assess your company’s carbon footprint, and then give you the tools you need to cut down on emissions. We offer a free demo for you to better understand our platform and all that it has to offer – including assistance on how to reduce emissions, optimise energy efficiency, and more to make sure your business doesn’t further contribute to climate change.

https://est.ufba.br/sites/est.ufba.br/files/kim/medievalwarmperiod.pdf  

https://treering.voices.wooster.edu/the-medieval-optimum/ 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-023-00734-4?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2023/08/06/world/climate-change-history/ 

https://cp.copernicus.org/articles/2/99/2006/ 

https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2015/12/04/study-undercuts-idea-that-medieval-warm-period-was-global/ 

https://www.britannica.com/event/Great-Drought?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/11676/chapter/2

In this article, we’ll explain what Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guidance is, how it works, the benefits, and challenges of this sustainability initiative.

Microsoft's Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guidance

In 2025, companies are taking their sustainability efforts to the next level – with large corporations such as Microsoft or Walmart releasing their own sustainability initiatives, including Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guidance.

This sustainability guide released by Microsoft is set to help demonstrate that suppliers are adhering to current sustainability standards

In this article, we’ll explain what Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guidance is, how it works, the benefits, and challenges of this sustainability initiative. 

What is Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guide?

Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guidance is a framework which illustrates how Microsoft’s supply chain is adhering to current sustainability standards, and allows suppliers to effectively reduce their emissions. 

💡This guidance can help to encourage suppliers to employ the necessary environmental and socially practices required for sustainability reporting, which is only becoming more imperative as the global push for greater sustainability continues. 

This can help Microsoft to improve upon monitoring, managing, and reducing their emissions and waste created on behalf of their suppliers.

The environment is something that none of us can no longer afford to ignore. We all have our part to play in reducing carbon emissions for future generations. We all need to accelerate sustainability progress whilst allowing for business growth without ignoring our environmental, social, and governance) capabilities. So, whether you're in finance, operations, or IT. This session will help you attain  strategic guidance that will shape your organisation’s journey. In this session you’ll learn about building a strong digital foundation to track and manage sustainability data, and speed progress toward net zero. 

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Here are some of the key components of Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guidance:

Setting appropriate environmental targets

Encouraging suppliers to adhere to their ESG-related goals 

Using various method to engage suppliers in the sustainability initiative 

Collaborating with other industries and suppliers to report progress

Participating in collective sustainability initiatives within their industry

👉 Remember, Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guidance is a part of a larger effort created by Microsoft to reduce its carbon footprint and become carbon negative by 2030 – pairing up with the the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) to ensure productive monitoring of their supply chain emissions.

The table below will provide a reference for some of Microsoft's current sustainability initiatives:

<table border="1">
  <tr>
    <th>Initiative</th>
    <th>Description</th>
    <th>Impact</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Carbon Negative by 2030</td>
    <td>Microsoft aims to remove more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits by 2030. This involves reducing carbon emissions across its operations and products.</td>
    <td>By reducing its carbon footprint, Microsoft contributes to mitigating climate change and influencing other companies to adopt similar goals.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Water Positive by 2030</td>
    <td>The company’s goal is to replenish more water than it consumes by focusing on water conservation, efficiency, and replenishment projects.</td>
    <td>This initiative helps address water scarcity and ensures sustainable water use in water-stressed regions.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Zero Waste by 2030</td>
    <td>Microsoft is working to eliminate waste by reusing, recycling, or composting all of its operational waste. This includes end-of-life recycling for its data centers.</td>
    <td>Promotes circular economy practices and reduces landfill use, conserving resources and reducing environmental impact.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Protect Ecosystems</td>
    <td>Microsoft is investing in biodiversity preservation by partnering with organisations to protect ecosystems and support sustainable practices.</td>
    <td>Supports global biodiversity, enhances ecosystem resilience, and protects endangered species.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability</td>
    <td>A digital tool that helps organisations track, report, and reduce their environmental impact through data-driven insights.</td>
    <td>Enables businesses to improve their sustainability practices by providing actionable insights, reducing their carbon footprints, and aligning with ESG goals.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Supply Chain Sustainability (Procurement Sustainability Assurance)</td>
    <td>Focuses on encouraging suppliers to adopt sustainable practices, including carbon reduction, responsible sourcing, and efficient energy use.</td>
    <td>Reduces the environmental impact of Microsoft’s supply chain and helps standardise sustainability practices across industries.</td>
  </tr>
</table>


How does Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guide work?

Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guidance works by providing a detailed guide to ensure suppliers effectively reduce their GHG emissions and align their current sustainability initiatives with Microsoft’s own ambitious goals – such as by working to become carbon negative by 2030.
💡 It is important to remember that being carbon negative refers to your net-emissions, meaning that companies who engage in this title must remove more carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere than they emit.

This is why Microsoft has placed such a large emphasis on carbon capture and storage removal systems to help them achieve their ambitious goals of reducing emissions by 2030.

Here are the key guidelines suppliers will be obligated to follow under Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guidance:

Adhere to Microsoft’s supplier code of conduct

Disclose their scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions

Utilise the Carbon Disclosure Project’s platform to share progress 

👉 As a whole, Microsoft’s guide works to provide suppliers with a framework to manage and report their carbon emissions by offering various tools and resources to help make their calculations, and subsequent sustainability reports, more accurate. 

Microsoft values the following ideals in the midst of their sustainability journey:

Utilising science & math to develop ambitious yet approachable goals;

Practicing accountability & transparency to take initiative and reduce emissions significantly by 2030;

Investing in the newest carbon capture and storage technologies to further reduce emissions, such as by investing $1 billion of their own capital in a new Climate Innovation Fund to help support the development future carbon removal technologies;

Encouraging customers to engage in sustainability initiatives by developing products that will help users to reduce their own carbon footprint;

Speaking out on imperative public policy issues to support improvement in environmental protocols and emission reductions to help further decarbonise industries which emit copious amounts of GHG emissions;

Recruiting the help of employees to help succeed in this transition to advance technological innovation and reduce emissions by 2030.

The Role of Collaboration in Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guide

One of the hallmark qualities to Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guide is by encouraging collaboration with suppliers to boost sustainable procurement practice. 

This can help Microsoft not only achieve their goal of reducing carbon emissions by 55% by 2030, but can encourage suppliers to employ these sustainable business practices – demonstrating and spreading the importance of transparency and accountability across the world, as Microsoft is one of the most recognised brand names in the world.

💡In addition to this, Microsoft provide suppliers with various trainings such as assistance in GHG accounting or webinars to ensure transparency and compliance in the Supplier Portal.

Environmental Goals in Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Initiative

Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guide is a single component a part of a broader sustainability initiative developed by Microsoft. 

Regardless, Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guide embodies several environmental goals to encourage suppliers to help support Microsoft in their ultimate emission reduction goals. 

Here are some of the environmental goals depicted in Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guide:

Working to become carbon negative by 2030

Preserving ecosystems such as by protecting more land than used by 2025

Becoming water positive by replenishing more water than consumed by 2030

Microsoft’s environmental goals demonstrate why it is crucial to engage your suppliers in your sustainability efforts, as a more resilient and eco-friendly supply chain can help to mitigate excess emissions and environmental hazards.

👉 In order to be successful in these goals, Microsoft must engage their suppliers and provide them with adequate resources to help manage their business practices more sustainably. 

What are the benefits to Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guide?

sMicrosoft is bound to reap several benefits via the use of their sustainability initiatives, such as by encouraging supplies to reduce emissions, boosting their brand reputation, and engaging business partners to take similar sustainable actions.

Here are some of the benefits to those who adhere to Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guide:

Improved Business Efficiency – If suppliers commit to following the guidelines presented in Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guide, it could help to boost efficiency and ultimately allow Microsoft’s overall business operations to run smoother.

Mitigating Waste – Practicing sustainable procurement and improved sustainability practices can help to avoid additional waste and reduce GHG emissions from landfills.

Reduce Emissions – Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guide is designed to help suppliers reduce even the most difficult scope 3 emissions.

Boost Supply Chain Resilience – By encouraging sustainable practices, Microsoft is working to build a more resilient supply chain – as Microsoft’s Procurement Sustainability Assurance Guide can help supplier to utilise renewable energy resources and improve upon ethical sourcing. 

Stephanie Safdie, US Copywriter

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