Health and safety issues prevent small companies acting on enviromental concerns
September 1, 2009
Dealing with employment issues, as well as health and safety, is preventing small businesses from acting on their environmental concerns, and saving money in the process, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) and the UK200Group warned this week.
According to a "Business and the Environment" survey carried out by the University of Middlesex, commissioned by the UK200Group which represents independent accountants and lawyers, 80% of respondents classed environmental issues as a high priority.
When asked whether they currently have green policies in place, setting out their environmental aims and procedures, 58% said they had not.
Furthermore, measures such as reducing energy costs, which was a priority for 28% of the businesses surveyed, and waste reduction (a priority for 21%) were overshadowed by concerns about updating staff training and skills (51%) and health and safety (46%).
FPB's Environmental Advisor, Miranda Allan, the Managing Director of Allan Environmental Solutions, said: "By evaluating and better managing the use of resources, as well as waste management, businesses can save between 5% and 10% of bottom line costs."
In addition, she continued, using their new environmental credibility to the full by creating an environmental policy to explain their proactive stance and targets for the future can help secure future business with like-minded suppliers.
One problem could be that the majority of respondents displayed a lack of knowledge about the specifics of environmental legislation. While about half could recall the general thrust of environmental laws that applied to them, only 45% could name the relevant legislation.
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