Green business
The bottom line
Economic benefits of placing environment at top of the agenda
By Robbie Weir
N
ow more than ever before, Scot-
tish businesses are being forced to
think seriously about their competitive
position in the marketplace and most
importantly, how they can continue to
work effectively and successfully amidst
the current economic climate.
With pressure coming from all direc-
tions, including consumer-buying trends,
tighter cost margins and more stringent
environmental legislation – it’s essential
that companies realise the true value of
resource efficiency as a potential survival
aid.
One way organisations can tackle
this is by adopting resource efficiency as
a robust business strategy and a signifi-
cant opportunity for cost savings. Com-
panies should start to identify ways to
eliminate or reduce unnecessary waste in
all areas of their activity, including raw
material, water and energy use. Reduced
costs, better performance and improved
working conditions could all be welcome
side effects of taking action. So what actions can businesses take identified in areas such as paper, energy
Those who are prepared to take to get started? In the commercial sector and water use. Scottish businesses that
action and implement a systematic in particular there are a range of quick have taken advantage of our free services
approach to waste minimisation will also wins with long-term benefits that can be have benefited financially, with an aver-
find it can pay dividends as part of their age saving of around £41,000 a year.
sales and marketing activities. More and
>> Top tips
Contrary to the expected trend
more, clients are looking for higher levels towards the ‘paperless office’, paper
When heating, reduce the temperature of a room by one degree
of environmental standards to be speci- consumption continues to rise. When
and you could cut the heating bill by as much as 10%.
fied when taking on new suppliers and you consider that a single office worker
contractors. replace tungsten bulbs with energy-efficient, compact can get through up to 100 sheets
Envirowise aims to put the sus- fluorescent lamps and slim-line tubes. They typically make of paper every day, reducing the
tainable use of resources at the heart
immediate savings of 50% and last up to ten times longer.
amount used in the first place is cru-
of Scottish business but for many cial. It’s vital for companies to realise
Choose minimally packaged products or ask your suppliers to
companies, knowing where to start
supply products in less packaging. Ask your suppliers to take
that paper purchase is far more costly
is the biggest challenge. However, the
excess packaging away with them when they deliver.
than disposal. Implementing a double-
building blocks to a greener, more prof- sided print policy or ‘think before you
itable business need not be as complex
Make the best use of computer equipment by upgrading
print’ campaign for office emails is a
or time-consuming as some may antici-
and re-using old machines for low power work, e.g. as print
good starting point.
servers.
pate. The largest controllable outgoing
By seeking expert advice from pro-
Avoid overproduction of marketing materials by reviewing
in an office, however, is often energy
grammes like Envirowise, and by imple- distribution lists and regularly updating databases. consumption. Experience shows that
menting easy, effective, low-cost mea- simple good practice measures will not
sures to develop more effective waste
Gain the support of staff within the office so they can help
only lessen environmental impact, but
to reduce waste, and appoint champions for collating data
management, businesses can expect to can easily lower office energy bills by
on particular waste streams that you want to target eg.
save as much as 4 per cent of their turn-
paper.
up to 50 per cent. These are costs that
over. businesses simply can’t afford to ignore
20
| 23 March 2009 | Special report: Environment | www.holyrood.com |
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