How green is your business?
I hear a lot of talk of businesses about becoming 'green' have you some tips on where to start?
Running a green business is more than just turning off the lights when you leave!
Saving energy directly is of course a big part of it, but there are a lot of opportunities for all businesses - whatever their size - to show their green credentials.
During the past year, many large companies have adopted a 'green strategy' and are using this message in their marketing. Increasingly, this subject is becoming an important one for businesses and their customers.
So how green is your business? The following checklist will help you to answer this question:
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Do you currently monitor your energy consumption and set targets for reduction?
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Have you explored opportunities for renewable and green energy use?
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Are you thinking about reducing your carbon footprint?
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Would you consider using a carbon off-setting scheme?
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Do you minimise the use of transport where possible and use clean fuels?
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Are there pressures from your customers or suppliers to become “greener”?
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Do you have a current environmental policy statement?
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Does your business comply with all relevant environmental legislation & regulations?
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Do you carry out COSHH and risk assessments?
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Are your products and services designed to minimise environmental impact?I.E. ethical product and material sourcing; products and materials that are themselves recyclable.
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What about your packaging: have you eliminated all unnecessary packaging and can it be recycled?
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Could you identify all waste streams and set targets for reduction?
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Do you segregate waste and recycle where possible?
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Are there opportunities to adjust any other processes in the business in order to reduce waste?
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Do you identify opportunities to reuse materials such as packaging wherever possible?
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If you are currently undertaking any building works have you explored opportunities follow carbon development?
If you are as green as you can be, then well done and I hope you are telling the world about it, if not and you would like some help and advice read on.
Business Link is offering a free Green Business Review and we will help you with an action plan. Also visit the Business Link website www.businesslink.gov.uk and click on Environment and Efficiency for lots of practical tips and information. Also visit www.envirowise.gov.uk where you can get access to specialist information and request to see an environmental adviser.
In the meantime a quick action plan for you:
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Think about who and where you source your products from - does the supplier adopt eco-friendly practices and what distance do the products travel to reach you? Using a local supplier will likely reduce fuel emissions.
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Consider how you package your products - could you use eco-packaging and labels that are made from recycled or bio-degradable materials?
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Ethical consumers have a great deal of spending power and could boost your profits - are there new lines you could introduce that are organic, fair-trade or energy saving?
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You could offer a recycling service, but certainly you could encourage customers to re-use packages and materials.
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Communicate with your customers electronically - as well as reducing paper waste, you can promote your green practices electronically.
That's all for this month.
Peter Mulhall
Business Adviser
tel: 07717 290309
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Business Link - the place to go for business support
Online: www.businesslink.gov.uk/east
