The Environment and Your Business

The impact that small business have on the environment has been highlighted by The Carbon Trust who state:

• Small businesses spend around £6 billion a year on energy of which £1 billion is wasted.
• Small businesses emit 12 million tonnes of unnecessary carbon every year through wasting energy.
• An average small business spends nearly £5,000 a year on energy but could be wasting nearly a fifth (£900, 18%) of this by using older inefficient equipment and leaving equipment and lighting on unnecessarily and heating / cooling to inappropriate levels.
• Small businesses could save £300 through low and no cost measures but could save up to £900 a year by implementing energy efficiency measures that require some initial investment.
• An average small shop in the UK has an average annual energy bill of £5,000 and could be wasting over £400 a year by using older inefficient equipment, leaving equipment and lighting on unnecessarily and heating / cooling to inappropriate levels.
• An average small office based company in the UK has an average annual energy bill of around £2,100 but could be wasting over £400 of this every year by using older inefficient equipment, leaving equipment and lighting on unnecessarily and heating / cooling to inappropriate levels.
• An average hotel, pub or restaurant in the UK has an average annual energy bill of £4,000, but could be wasting around £400 of this by using older inefficient equipment and leaving equipment and lighting on unnecessarily and heating / cooling to inappropriate levels.

Saving Energy

Eco-business has become the new buzz over the last year. Customers are increasingly asking about the 'green' credentials of the businesses they deal with. Small business is not alone when it comes to improving their impact on the environment. The Carbon Trust has an Energy Efficiency Helpline that you can call free on: 0800 085 2005. Energy efficiency loans are available that can help small businesses in particular with the cost of replacing equipment with energy saving versions. More information about these grants is on their website.

The WEEE Regulations

Most small businesses use computers and other electrical equipment. Some 315 million computers are redundant across the world, with over half of these being discarded into landfill. In a bid to improve recycling rates, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) was developed. The directive becomes effective from July 2007. It is now your business's responsibility to dispose of responsibly any electrical equipment under the WEEE regulations. Your local authority is your first port of call, as they should now have specialised recycling facilities that your business can use.

Waste and your Business

The waste that your business produces can be a major environmental hazard. You can also see an overview of other regulations that may affect your business on the NetRegs website at: www.netregs.gov.uk/NetRegs. Free independent advice can also be obtained from Envirowise [www.envirowise.gov.uk] or by calling free on 0800 585794. It's also a good idea to read 'Waste Management: The Duty of Care - A Code of Practice' that you can download from: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/legislation/duty.htm. If you need information or advice on wider environmental issues you can contact the Environmental Agency at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk or by calling 08708 506 506.

Customers are in the driving seat when it comes to choosing which businesses they patronise. It is now not just a social responsibility that your business is operated with the minimum negative impact on the environment; it is also now a commercial imperative as well. Your business must comply with all the existing environmental regulations, but even the smallest of businesses can go the extra mile and illustrate to their customers that they do have a social responsibility that is manifested in how they run their business. If you can move your enterprise to a more green footing, you will see this reflecting in improved sales and higher profitability.