Envirowise calls on companies in Glasgow to place environmental best practice at the top of their business strategies to help save an average of £13,600 per year.
Envirowise Business Manager for Scotland, Alan Hendry says 2007 is quickly becoming the year that businesses will have no choice but to take action to lower their environmental impact.
As businesses in Glasgow focus on getting one step ahead of the competition, now is the time for them to ensure that the efficient use of resources, and a commitment to cutting unnecessary waste, becomes embedded within business processes. Envirowise is offering businesses across Glasgow a chance to lead the way by taking advantage of the free and practical, cost-saving advice on offer to local business.
The benefits are clear - by placing the topic firmly on the management agenda, offices in Glasgow could each be set to save an average of £13,600 per year,1.
Alan Hendry, Envirowise Business Manager for Scotland, says: "By building in this commitment - from using less paper in offices to designing out components in manufactured products – companies can start making real money.
"A further advantage of acting now is that resource efficiency can gradually become embedded in company culture – something that all employees can be proud of and customers and suppliers can really take notice of."
Envirowise recommends business managers ask themselves the following questions:
- Goals - have your environmental objectives been considered as part of your wider business goals?
- Finance - could initial investment in more efficient technology offer long term cost and raw material savings?
- Market - what are your competitors doing about their environmental impact, are you missing a trick?
- R & D - could you adopt a 'cleaner' approach in your product design, services or packaging, to minimise waste and maximise margins?
- People – can you make the environment a key part of your organisation's employee charter or mission statement, making you more appealing as an employer?
- Marketing - if you are taking positive action, do your clients, suppliers and potential customers know about it?
Alan continues: "Every company that puts in place simple measures that tackle 'visible' waste, such as encouraging double-sided printing among staff, is setting a precedent – both to themselves and to their competitors. Over time, businesses will be able to identify how to cut out 'invisible' waste as well – such as that occurring at other points in the supply chain – and continue to reap the financial rewards."
Businesses of any size or sector can make use of the package of free help and advice available from local support organisations: Envirowise Scotland (0800 585 794).
Issued on behalf of Envirowise by Trimedia Harrison Cowley. Media Contacts: Jenny Ingram on 0131 226 2363.
1Sourced from Envirowise Impact Assessment Scotland, 2004. Sample of 259 Scottish companies from all industry sectors. Annual savings of £33 million have been achieved through measures implemented in 2004 by the sample of Scottish sites – this represents an average saving of £13,600 per site.
About Envirowise
Envirowise delivers a valuable programme of confidential advice to Scottish businesses. This advice enables businesses to improve profitability and reduce environmental impact.
Independent, practical and proven guidance is available through the Envirowise Advice Line, information resources and on site visits* delivered by a national team of expert advisors. Each solution is driven by the specific needs of individual firms, to genuinely improve their business practices, profitability and competitiveness. Since 1994, Envirowise has helped UK industry save over £1billion.
The Envirowise programme is available to any Scottish business, completely free of charge.
For more information visit the Envirowise Scotland page or call 0800 585 794.
* Please note that different services are available in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – please contact our Advice Line on 0800 585 794 for more information on whether you are eligible for a site visit.