42 www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com


“The ability to adapt to a changing environment, and to changes in their marketplace, enhances business sustainability and resilience.”


Sustainability also brings practical, on-the-ground benefits,


like cutting costs. In partnership with environmental and sustainability consultancy Mabbett, Scottish Enterprise and Resource Efficient Scotland, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce’s Green Business network identified £100,000 in savings for the 10 businesses who took part in their first Green Light Programme. “The purpose of the programme was to help those businesses achieve a baseline environmental management plan,” said Senior Director Alison McRae. “That sounds complicated, but really it’s about very simple measures. “Paying attention to things like lighting, heating and


ventilation can reduce energy bills and make businesses more profitable. But we also look at product and service


It’s about working towards a 100% renewable practice,


where any waste isn’t simply recycled, it’s remanufactured, repurposed and reused”


modelling, to see where we can cut costs and improve sustainable practice. “Our role as a network is to work with businesses to


encourage resource efficiency, showcase best practice, promote collaboration and provide networking opportunities. We also support businesses to find funding opportunities that support sustainability improvements.” The Glasgow Business Network is also about creating those


contacts that can help build a more sustainable business. “We offer various support for businesses, usually small and medium-sized, that give them the tools, knowledge and contacts they need,” said Alison. “We work with agencies like Scottish Enterprise and Zero


Waste Scotland, as well as with businesses and educational institutions across Scotland, to build a network of people who can share best practice and to connect businesses with the support infrastructure they need. It’s all about building Scotland’s sustainable business community, and helping


them – and our economy, including the circular economy – to grow.”


Businesses may start their sustainability journey as a matter


of necessity, says Kirsty Platt. But an increasing awareness of their suppliers’, customers’ and consumers’ needs leads to more active engagement. From there, they may start thinking long term, innovating to create new products and services that add real value to what they do. Ultimately, as they understand more and more of the benefits of sustainable practice, they set out to transform their business, to use sustainability as a tool for growth. “Essentially, it’s about creating models that generate zero


waste,” she says. “It’s about working towards a 100 per cent renewable practice, where any waste isn’t simply recycled, it’s remanufactured, repurposed and reused. “The ultimate goal is to separate use of resources from


economic growth. Companies are starting to steer their business practices towards using renewable, recyclable or biodegradable materials and products designed for disassembly and reuse. Business models are shifting to include resource recovery, product life extension, and sharing platforms and product as a service.” That, of course, isn’t a short-term goal. There are a lot of


steps on the road to a truly circular economy. For most businesses, the initial focus isn’t ‘how can I reuse everything in this environment?’ It’s more likely to be ‘how can I conform to the energy-saving standards being placed on me?’ or ‘how can I make this business more sustainable without spending a fortune?’ Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and agencies like


Scottish Enterprise are there to help with that first step, along with a host of others. Those agencies can provide services like free-of-charge energy and sustainability audits. They can help to create workable sustainability planning. Some can even help businesses find and apply for the finance they need for improvement projects. All of which means they help businesses not only save money, but also actively promote growth.


FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CIRCULAR GLASGOW, CONTACT THE TEAM AT CIRCULARGLASGOW@ GLASGOWCHAMBEROFCOMMERCE.COM OR VISIT THE WEBSITE WWW.CIRCULARGLASGOW.COM


FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SUPPORT AVAILABLE FROM SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE, CALL 0845 607 8787 AND ASK FOR A SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALIST, OR VISIT SCOTTISH-ENTERPRISE.COM/SUSTAINABILITY


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48