£380million of potential cost savings simply flushed down the drain.
Scottish businesses are being urged to stop letting their profits simply slip down the drain, by taking immediate advice from Envirowise, the programme that helps businesses turn their waste into profits by becoming more resource efficient.
By encouraging business to make better use of resources and advocating simple waste minimisation measures, Envirowise has helped Scottish businesses identify massive savings opportunities of over £13 million in the last year1.
Envirowise is now urging companies to take advantage of the free practical advice they offer, which could help them save up to £200 per employee2. If every office in Scotland signs-up to receiving advice, Scottish businesses as a whole could save £380 million 3, while also significantly boosting their environmental credentials.
Local businesses can make use of a number of free and confidential services, tailored specifically to suit individual businesses and sectors, from large manufacturing operations, through to small to medium sized office-based companies. Advice can identify potential savings to be made on everyday, often overlooked and taken for granted costs such as paper, ink, waste disposal, water, heating and transport.
A wealth of advice exists as part of the programme, including free, confidential on-site visits*, workshops, seminars and training, a dedicated Advice Line and a comprehensive website full of good practice guidelines and case studies.
Alan Hendry, Envirowise Business Manager for Scotland said, "We are offering companies a chance to get ahead by taking advantage of our user-friendly service. With businesses' environmental performance increasingly under scrutiny, companies stand to gain in terms of reputation and customer relationships as well as financially."
"The bottom line is that businesses can significantly reduce their waste costs and boost their profits by simply putting in place a range of easy, no cost or low cost measures. The service is available, the expert knowledge and experience is in place, it's confidential and above all, it's free and has already been used by a range of forward thinking businesses."
Laing O'Rourke is one company in Scotland now reaping the benefits after seeking expertise and support from Envirowise. Dr. Stephen Thomson, Resource Strategist of Laing O'Rourke Scotland commented;
"Through effective, conscious choices, firms can save money, labour and unnecessary waste. Resource efficiency underpins sensible business practices and promotes lean and agile performance and above all results in measurable, financial reward."
To find out how much money your business could save by reducing waste and how to get started visit the Envirowise's Scotland pages or call the Envirowise Advice Line on 0800 585794 (quoting Maximise Profit Scotland).
For further information please call Laura McKenzie or Jenny Ingram on 0131 226 2363 or email at lauramc@harrisoncowley.com or jennyi@harrisoncowley.com
Notes to Editors
Minimise Waste, Maximise Profit
Simple measures can be taken in the office to reduce the cost of waste, including:
- Encouraging staff to re-use and recycle, through staff awareness training.
- Re-using scrap paper and printing double-sided.
- Issuing documents electronically rather than in paper form.
- Nominating a waste champion to implement and promote waste minimisation within the company.
- Setting up an employee suggestion scheme to generate ideas.
- Using key performance indicators (KPIs) to set performance targets which can be measured.
- 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 Envirowise's Scotland pages 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.