Want your business to be more sustainable?
- Include sustainable development objectives in projects.
- Limit waste by defaulting printers to double sided printing and collect and recycle waste paper. Recycle toner cartridges, much of the waste we create is material that does not biodegrade easily - specify within contracts that deliveries should not be over packaged.
- Have policies which encourage staff to save your business money by switching off lights, computers and other equipment when not needed; replace bulbs with energy saving versions; and when buying new equipment think about its energy efficiency.
- Sustainable development can be incorporated into many aspects of buildings, from identifying the need for new buildings (could and existing space be used?), to options for refurbishment, running and maintaining the building. In the short term green products may cost more, but in the long run the building will have much lower running costs.
- Develop a 'green transport plan' - assess the needs of staff and visitors travelling to your premises. How will you support or encourage them to travel in a sustainable way? Encourage the use of public transport, cycling and walking find our what would encourage staff to use these modes of transport more.
- Develop a short environmental policy statement to show how your organisation is committed to reducing energy use, how you reuse or recycle where possible, your commitment of purchasing environmentally sustainable materials wherever possible, how you will use natural resources in a better way.
Find out about the WEEE and RoHS directives and what they mean for your business.
Business Taskforce on Sustainable Consumption and Production
The Business Taskforce was convened by BERR and Defra to bring forward practical proposals that enable companies to move to more sustainable patterns of consumption and production (SCP) in ways that boost competitiveness and contribute to economic growth. For more information on the opportunities for your business see their reports.