Small businesses across Scotland – from offices to retailers and even restaurants – could be missing a trick when it comes to looking at ways to save money. That is the message from Envirowise, which works with businesses across Scotland to help them embrace resource efficiency and ultimately reduce waste.
Each year, Scotland generates a collective nine million tonnes of waste1. And with waste typically costing up to 4% of a company’s turnover2, Envirowise offers a range of free services that can help (www.envirowise.gov.uk/SmallBusinessServiceScotland).
Businesses can especially benefit from the Publications Wizard (http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/publications), a new means of searching for information on sustainability allowing time-poor companies to streamline their search, giving them more time to tackle environmental issues in the process. There are 620 publications available and the easy-to-use tool allows companies of all sizes and from all sectors to select specific topics and issues that are relevant to them from a list of options. Once the options have been chosen the site will then allow users to create a tailor-made PDF document.
There are a number of benefits to companies taking advantage of the Publications Wizard:
- Users can easily select the information relevant to their business rather than searching through a vast database of publications.
- Documents can be personalised by adding in their name & company name – something that will prove very useful for future presentations and will allow them to take 'ownership' of the document.
- By streamlining their search, business can ensure that they spend less time searching for information and more time actually taking action on environmental issues.
- Documents can be used to educate staff on specific ways they can make a positive step towards resource efficiency.
The Edinburgh-based agency Newhaven Communications has recently upped the ante in its move to engender a greener culture. Ken Dixon, Planning Partner at Newhaven, said:
"As an agency, we decided from the outset over 5 years ago that it was time for communications agencies to think more seriously about their impact on the environment.
More recently the Envirowise Publications Wizard has been a great way to get more people to appreciate and apply best practise on a regular basis. Knowing that we can cherry-pick information relevant to our business is really appealing. We’ve successfully used the online tool to introduce additional simple but effective measures, and more people throughout the agency are realising that resource efficiency needn’t be difficult, costly or time-consuming.
"Minimising our water usage was built into our refurbishment through straight forward and inexpensive methods such as dual flushing toilets and fitting water flow limiters on all taps. Our printers are set to double-sided as default and we only use the colour printer when necessary. Printers, laptops and photocopiers are all set to sleep-mode when inactive and we ensure that electronic equipment is turned-off at night. During a second stage of renovations we specified and sourced 2,500 sq ft of reclaimed timbers for the basement floor and used organic eco paints on our building interior.
"Like most SME’s our environmental plan is still very much ‘work in progress’ and we’re keen to continue identifying further opportunities where our waste management and environmental performance can be improved. We’ve made resource efficiency a part of our company culture as something that all employees can be part of and proud of and that our customers and suppliers are increasingly demanding."
Robbie Weir, Envirowise programme manager for Scotland, said:
"The fact is that any business, no matter how small, has the capacity to improve its use of resources – and making money savings as a result. This need not be a costly or time consuming process with some of the simplest changes capable of saving a substantial amount of money. By reducing unnecessary waste at the outset of any product or process, less energy and raw materials will be needed at every subsequent step."
"By building in this commitment - from using less paper in offices, to minimising water usage, to designing out components in manufactured products – companies can start seeing real money savings."
Any small business can get free advice on improving resource efficiency and saving money by visiting www.envirowise.gov.uk/SmallBusinessServiceScotland or by calling 0800 585 794.
1 Source: SEPA, Commercial and Industrial Waste Producer Survey 2004
1 Source: Envirowise Publication GG414