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Greener Business
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Greener Business
Green business is the future.
Working and trading in a sustainable way protects the environment
around you, for present and future generations. Plus,
going green has benefits for your business, including:
- Money savings from reduced energy bills,
lower fuel costs and shorter supply routes
- Increased efficiency
- More tenders won in a more
environment-conscious market
- Money making if your business expands into
new, green markets
See below for guidance on how to green your business today.
Are you a business on Hainault Business Park?
If so, you are entitled to free environmental support and can apply
for a Redbridge Green Business Award, as part of Redbridge
Council's pilot sustainable business project. For more information,
visit the Redbridge Green Business Awards
page or contact the Environment
Team.
How to make your business greener
Businesses within the UK
produce approximately 88 million tonnes of CO2 annually*. As a
business owner you have the potential to directly influence your
business's impact on the environment, from the paper you buy to the
amount of energy you use. Becoming a ‘green business’ can also help
you save
money and could
increase business through an improved environmental
reputation
Legislation
The environment is one of the most important factors governing
domestic and international business. Legislation is already
in place to ensure that efficiencies are made; energy and
carbon emissions reduced; and waste managed more
effectively. Find out which key pieces of legislation apply
to you at the
BusinessLink website.
Write an environmental policy
An environmental policy for
your business provides guidance and targets for you and your
staff, while showing your customers that you are committed to
sustainability. For guidance on writing a policy, visit
the
Business Link environment webpage.
Save energy and CO2
According to the Carbon Trust, “a 20% cut in energy costs can
represent the same bottom line benefit as a 5% increase in
sales.”
Find out how to save energy and reduce
your bills.
For information on cutting your carbon emissions,
interest free Carbon Surveys, energy-efficiency loans, research
grants, events, online tools and bespoke telephone advice, visit
The
Carbon Trust website.
Greener purchasing
From the food you purchase for
catering, to the contractors you employ for maintenance, your
choices have the potential to influence the overall sustainability
of your business. Learn how to make
greener choices.
Greener travel
Reducing fleet movements and
increasing sustainable transport use saves money by reducing your
fuel bill. Learn more about greener
travel.
Save water in your business
Climate change and a growing
population threatens our water supply, so saving water has never
been so important. It could save you money too. Learn how to make water savings in the
workplace.
Building or renovation
Visit our Green Building page for
information on how to reduce the energy demand of your new
building. Sustainable building design can also help improve staff
productivity and moral through features such as increased natural
light and ventilation.
Be a Fairtrade business
Find out all you need to know by visiting the Fairtrade web page or visit the Fairtrade community
website.
Environmental Management System (EMS)
Similar to other management systems, an EMS assesses your
strengths and weaknesses, helps you identify and manage
environmental impacts, ensures you comply with environmental
legislation and saves you money by increasing efficiency. You can
prove to customers that you are committed to meeting your
environmental responsibilities by getting your EMS certified, such
as through ISO 14001or BS 8555. For more information, visit the
Business Link website.
Redbridge news
Find out about things that are happening in the borough.
