In the current economic climate, efforts concerning environmental impact may no longer be a top priority for many companies. However, with pressures including consumer buying trends, tighter cost margins and environmental legislation, green business practice is becoming an essential element for any company’s long-term survival. Achieving a greener, more profitable business need not be as complex or time-consuming as some may anticipate.
Sustainability expert Envirowise helped companies across Scotland achieve financial savings of almost £13 million over just one year1. By implementing simple resource efficiency measures, businesses engaged with the Scottish Government funded programme have raised their game when it comes to improving green credentials and are reaping the rewards.
Businesses often underestimate how much their waste costs them but there are a range of quick wins with long-term benefits that can be identified in areas such as paper, energy and water use.
Less is more
Contrary to the expected trend towards the 'paperless office', paper consumption continues to rise annually by around 20 per cent and taking into account that a single office worker can use up to 100 sheets of paper every day, reducing the amount of paper used in the first instance is crucial. To help companies address such issues, Envirowise has developed a CD-Rom based toolkit providing a step-by-step guide to help reduce office waste. By visiting www.envirowise.gov.uk/greenofficiency, businesses can request a free 'Green Officiency' CD-ROM Toolkit to help them get started.
Water is another resource that is too often used unnecessarily. A business that implements simple and effective water management measures could cut their water and effluent bills by around 30 per cent. Free online tools are available by visiting www.envirowise.gov.uk/bigsplashscotland, which allow businesses to record and keep track of how much water is being used, benchmark themselves against competitors and find practical guidance on reducing consumption.
Get started
For many companies, getting started on the road to a greener future is the biggest challenge. Envirowise suggests businesses start by measuring the amount of waste they currently generate and set benchmarks for improvement. To offer an initial insight into resource use and environmental impact, Envirowise has developed the new, online Indicator Tool, available at www.envirowise.gov.uk/indicatorscotland. The free, interactive tool processes each company’s given data to indicate the costs and carbon footprint generated from its use of resources, highlighting those which are most important in managing its impact and making savings. By implementing some simple resource efficiency measures, companies can expect to save up 4% of their turnover.
Better together
In order for a company to become truly sustainable, environmental behaviour needs to be embedded throughout the organisation and 'owned' by everyone working within it. The best way to encourage behaviour change is to make environmental measures part of standard business practice. To help businesses take the necessary steps toward this cultural change, Envirowise offers a specially designed online resource, Embedding Behaviour Change, to provide clear-cut advice on developing a plan of action. Visit www.envirowise.gov.uk/change for advice on behaviour change.
Businesses interested in finding out more can visit www.envirowise.gov.uk/scotland or contact the confidential Envirowise advice line on 0800 585 794.
Seven Steps to a Greener Business
- When heating, reduce the temperature of a room by one degree and you could cut the heating bill by as much as 10%.
- Replace tungsten bulbs with energy-efficient, compact fluorescent lamps and slimline tubes. They typically make immediate savings of 50% and last up to ten times longer.
- Cut down on what you print but if you must print, set your printer to double sided print if possible and reuse paper by printing on the reverse side when possible. As a last resort, put paper recycling bins in all offices - a good guide is one bin between six staff and one next to each photocopier and printer.
- Choose minimally packaged products or ask your suppliers to supply products in less packaging. Ask your suppliers to take excess packaging away with them when they deliver.
- Make the best use of computer equipment by upgrading and re-using old machines for low power work, e.g. as print servers.
- Avoid overproduction of marketing materials by reviewing distribution lists and regularly updating databases.
- Gain the support of staff within the office so they can help to reduce waste, and appoint champions for collating data on particular waste streams that you want to target eg paper.
1 Envirowise Impact Assessment 2006