How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint With Electronic Key Control

With climate concerns increasing, 69% of CEOs view sustainability as a major driver of business growth. To achieve their environmental goals, companies are focusing on eco-friendly products and services, sustainable business practices, stakeholder engagement, and decarbonization. If sustainability matters to your organization and customers, it’s important to know how the solutions you implement can help you meet those goals. Here’s how electronic key control can help you reduce your carbon footprint:

1. Use Less Paper

Despite the digital revolution, we’re not using any less paper. In fact, demand for paper is expected to double by 2030. Paper accounts for 50% of the waste businesses produce, with U.S. offices using 12.1 trillion sheets a year.

By using electronic key management instead of paper key control forms and manual logs, you can reduce your organization’s paper waste. These systems are more secure and efficient as well — electronic key control logs are less susceptible to human error or manipulation, and you can have reports automatically emailed to management.

2. Optimize Resource Consumption

As one company puts it, sustainability is “pretty much synonymous with optimization.” By tracking keys and assets electronically, you can better control the resources your organization consumes, whether it’s computers, fuel, Freon, or parts. There are countless ways to fine-tune your business processes, but the following examples illustrate how you can implement green operational practices:

Fleet Management

Tracking fleet keys with an electronic key control system improves fleet efficiency by monitoring key activity. For added accountability, you can require drivers to enter the vehicle’s mileage when returning a key. You’ll be able to prevent unauthorized use of vehicles, reducing fuel waste and lowering emissions. Additionally, accurate fleet key records allow you to manage maintenance schedules, ensuring timely service and minimizing repairs.

KeyTrak Edge Vehicle Activity Report 

IT Lifecycle Planning

Electronic waste, or e-waste, is piling up five times faster than it’s being recycled. Between 2010 and 2022, e-waste volume increased 82% and is projected to grow another 32% by 2030.

If you’re an IT or facilities manager, use your key and asset management system to track equipment locations, item type, model, make, warranty expiration date, vendor, and serial number. With this information, you can ensure you have the right amount of hardware in inventory so you don’t end up disposing of unused or outdated items.

KeyTrak Edge Inventory Report 

When it’s time to dispose of hardware, invest in e-waste recycling services. This effort not only diverts harmful substances from landfills but also demonstrates your commitment to climate-friendly practices. It might even be required by law, as 25 states and the District of Columbia currently have e-waste regulations.

Space Utilization

By having an accurate record of key checkout history, you can efficiently manage shared office spaces, conference rooms, or equipment. You can identify underutilized areas or tools and optimize energy usage by shutting them down or putting them in energy-saving mode.

Since sustainability and optimization go hand in hand, electronic key and asset tracking can play a pivotal role in reducing resource consumption. Whether it's fleet management, IT lifecycle planning, or space utilization, your organization will be able to implement more ecofriendly operational practices.

3. Improve Maintenance and Repair Efficiency

In addition to controlling access to keys, a key and asset management system allows you to monitor facility maintenance. You can handle work orders, identify required parts across the building, see when smoke alarms were last checked, and assess Freon levels at various locations.

KeyTrak Edge Work Order Status Report

Improving maintenance and repair efficiency helps minimize unnecessary repairs or equipment replacement, which has a positive impact on the environment by reducing waste. Plus, building managers will save time and effort, freeing them up to focus on overall sustainability goals.

If your business prioritizes reducing its carbon footprint, embrace digital solutions like electronic key and asset management to decrease paper waste, optimize resource consumption, and improve maintenance efficiency. You’ll save time and resources while working towards a more sustainable world.

This post was originally published in 2023 and updated in 2025.