Operations

Green Business

Green Business is an all-encompassing term that covers social and environmental responsibility. Following Best Practice in green business issues leads to sustainability which provides not just environmental but financial stability too.

4 Simple Ways To Cut Costs While Boosting Business

Marissa Pysarczuk May 23, 2017 Green Business, Operations

Every business owner wants to keep costs as low as possible. However, it’s important not to fall into the trap of being penny wise and pound foolish when you’re looking to reduce your overheads. While it’s great to shave a few hundred pounds off your annual expenses, this is totally counterproductive if it’s going to cost you tens of thousands in missed opportunities. However, there are plenty of ways to cut costs in your business without hampering growth. Here, we’ve brought together four of the best — read on to find out how they can help you keep your expenses down and accelerate growth. Become more energy efficient If you’re looking to cut costs in your business, the first place you should look is your energy efficiency. Most business owners don’t realise just how much of an impact thi... »

A Beginner’s Guide to Business Energy Buying

A Beginner’s Guide to Business Energy Buying

January 11, 2017 Green Business, Operations, Planning

Whether you’re a business owner just starting out, or an already-established small business considering switching energy suppliers, getting to grips with energy buying if you haven’t done so before can be a difficult and time consuming process. For example, data from Utilitywise found that one in five business owners struggle to understand their energy bills. The survey revealed that 23% of business owners don’t double check the accuracy of their bill due to time constraints and a further 23% simply trust that it’s accurate even without multiple checks. Many small business owners simply don’t know where to begin. There are four key areas that small businesses should consider as a starting point to better energy buying and these are: comparing prices and charges; evaluating service levels; ... »

Save Money AND Run a Sustainable Business: Is it Possible?

Save Money AND Run a Sustainable Business: Is it Possible?

Danielle Chambers June 7, 2016 Green Business, Operations

It is a common misconception that being sustainable means ineffective cost methods, for reusing even the simplest of items can give a business the environmental responsibility they need to uphold a positive reputation – regardless of size. A global survey previously identified that 53% of consumers would prefer to purchase products and services from a company with strong environmental dedication; meaning running an unsustainable business could be causing more harm than you think. Whether you’re situated in a sky-scraping metropolis or a quaint space in a town centre, these helpful tips and efficient solutions will guide your business to a greener future without damaging your profitability. Purchase refillable pens It is estimated over 240m disposable pens that contain plastic and toxic ink... »

A Business Guide to Going Green

November 10, 2015 Green Business, Operations

Everyone worries about the environment, but these worries are often forgotten when it comes to running a business. Many companies avoid being green due to fears about cost – yet failing to follow legislation can end up costing you a whole lot more. It’s imperative that you find out what legislation there is, and how it affects your firm. But being green doesn’t just have to be a method of damage limitation – it can reduce your costs and give you a considerable edge over the competition. The guide covers why environmental concerns are your concerns, how to devise a plan for addressing them, and what actions you can take to ease your impact on the environment. Why bother being a green business? Our understanding of the impact that business operations have on the environment has grown massive... »

How a High-energy Consumption Business Created a Sustainability Policy

How a High-energy Consumption Business Created a Sustainability Policy

Victoria Browne January 29, 2014 Green Business

If your business is environmentally conscious, then this is something you should be promoting, developing and essentially shouting from the rooftops (or at least having a dedicated policy page on your website). A sustainability policy has not only become an environmentally conscious necessity, but is genuinely considered a sound marketing strategy. Companies want to be seen to be working with environmentally responsible partners and consumers want to know that what they’re buying is ethically sourced. Establishing a sustainability policy – essentially a customer and staff orientated breakdown of your environmental pledge and how you plan to meet your aims – doesn’t have to become a drawn-out investment either. Those practices you already adhere to (even for purely money-saving reasons) can... »

The ISO 14001 Revision – What you Need to Know

The ISO 14001 Revision - What you Need to Know

November 8, 2013 Green Business, Operations

ISO 14001 is the most popular standard for environmental management, with over 250,000 organisations worldwide possessing the certificate. The ISO 14001 standard has helped businesses by giving them a better understanding of how their activities, products and services impact the environment. Just a few of the benefits of the standard include resource efficiency, improved business continuity, cost savings, improvements in supply chains and enhanced reputation and competitive advantage. Since the standard was initially published, the perception of sustainability has evolved, and as a result the international standards committee introduced new requirements that addressed this in the 2011 revision. The revision of the ISO 14001 standard is a long process and is not expected to be published unt... »

The Business Benefits of Environmentally Friendly Packaging

August 20, 2013 Green Business

By Marcus Hill, Founder and MD of London Bio Packaging Developing an ethical supply chain that includes sustainable packaging can bring about far-reaching business benefits. Environmental responsibility is not at odds with profitability; in fact, it can help you to build your brand, win new contracts and safeguard the business’ reputation. Whilst the majority of food and catering businesses agree that eco packaging is a ‘nice to have’, some believe that the cost is going to be prohibitive. But environmentally friendly packaging has become significantly more affordable in recent years – ‘eco’ is no longer shorthand for ‘expensive’. The economies of scale mean that companies like London Bio Packaging are able to offer increasingly competitive prices, owing to greater demand. We are also cont... »

Writing Your First Environmental Policy

Writing Your First Environmental Policy

August 19, 2013 Green Business

In a previous article, we’ve discussed the merits of having an Environmental Policy and taking those first steps towards being a green business. So you can strike whilst the iron’s hot, we’ve put together a template Environmental Policy to help you get started. Before implementing the Policy, it’s important to ensure it is approved by management to ensure buy-in for the company’s new-found green ambitions. It’s also worth showing a draft of the policy to your staff, as they may have some great business-relevant ideas to include. Whilst a template can help you get off the blocks, there could be numerous industry specific issues that would make good inclusions. The template below is designed to be free of industry bias. As mentioned, there may be some tweaks or inclusions (or deletions!) you... »

How to Save the World with a Mouse Click

June 25, 2013 Green Business

Quick Tips on Green Printing With Recycle Week now over, Rob Fenn at the British Assessment Bureau takes a look at simple ways of dramatically reducing paper use. Despite being very much in the digital age, printing in the office hasn’t abated. Whilst email may have replaced conversation in many situations, we still can’t resist hitting that print button! In the UK alone, we get through 12.5 million tonnes of the stuff each year. In fairness, the idea of a completely paperless office simply just wouldn’t work for all businesses. Back in the ‘70s, the idea was heralded as ‘the future’. Since then, paper consumption has actually increased. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t come close to being paperless, using a little bit of innovative thinking and efficiency. We hope the following tips w... »

Adopting Sustainability to Drive Business: How to Create a Sustainable Business

Adopting Sustainability to Drive Business: How to Create a Sustainable Business

March 28, 2013 Green Business

In the first article in this series I opened by saying, “Sustainability is really just about being a better business. It is about using less, reducing waste, becoming more efficient, and thinking longer term. I’ll add to that description here by saying that sustainability is about listening first, then responding to what you hear. Listening to what stakeholders are saying – either directly to you, in the media, or in their own disclosures. Listen to regulators. They might not be regulating you (yet) but they are setting the policy frameworks that industry as a whole will be working under. Listening to nature. Understanding that our environment is increasingly stressed and fraught. Listening to society. Everyone is a potential customer. What are their problems, what do they need and what ar... »

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