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Top tips for small businesses
By Biba Hartigan
Cut your carbon output
- Sign up to a 100% renewable energy supplier for zero carbon electricity.
- Contact the Carbon Trust to see if you're eligible for a free energy survey.
- Up to 70% energy saving with seven day timers to switch off lights and equipment overnight and at weekends.
- Photocell sensors turn off the lights when there is enough daylight to reduce unnecessary use.
- Clean the windows and service lighting systems for up to 15% cost saving.
Business post
- Send as much as you can by email to avoid printing and delivery.
- Send the rest by post - a shared load has lower environmental impact.
- Only send essential packages by courier.
- Use an environmentally friendly courier.
- Look for one with ISO 14001:2004 - Environmental Management System (EMS) standard.
Getting from A to B
- Limit air travel to essential journeys only.
- Why send three when two will do? Cut down on numbers travelling abroad.
- Apply the one in three rule to business meetings abroad, replacing every third with a video or teleconference.
- Specify direct flights only when booking essential flights to save fuel and staff time.
- Take the train to all UK and European short haul destinations.
Save paper waste and resources
- Double sided printing cuts waste and paper costs by up to 50%.
- Keep documents electronic until the final draft.
- Use light weight paper for internal use and save the best for correspondence.
- Label separate bins for "recycling" and "landfill" so staff know where their rubbish ends up.
- Buy recycled paper.
Water waste
- Check for leaks and fix them with the potential to save thousands of litres of water.
- Lag water pipes to prevent burst pipes and save hot water.
- Fit a water saver in toilets to save one to three litres per flush.
- Fit aerated shower heads and taps to save up to 50% water.
- Install water efficient appliances in canteens.
Printing
- Specify 100% recycled paper to save energy, resources, water, waste and pollution
- Specify minimum 80% recycled content art and coated papers
- Specify vegetable based inks and aqueous varnish to save pollution and hazards to print workers' health
- Source a waterless printing process to save water, paper and pollution
- For the best results use a printer experienced with recycled paper and vegetable inks
Computers and laptops
- Only buy computers which can easily be repaired or upgraded
- Repair faulty computers whenever possible
- Upgrade your existing computer to save money and the environment
- Donate redundant computers for second hand use or refurbishment
- Recycling is the last resort, never send computers or accessories to landfill
Eco purchasing power
- Energy - sign up to a 100% renewable energy supplier
- Print - specify recycled paper, vegetable based inks and waterless printing
- Catering - specify local seasonal, organic, animal friendly and fair trade
- Cleaners - demand energy efficient appliances and eco-cleaning products
- Deliveries - save energy with pedal power, request the smallest possible fuel efficient vehicle elsewhere
Environmental policy
- Draw up an environmental policy for your business
- Put it into action to reduce environmental impact
- Educate employees to minimise the environmental impact of their work
- Monitor performance with an annual review of progress
- Publicise your policy and progress achieved to increase appeal to environmentally conscious customers and clients.
Fit and flexible
- Working from home and flexitime reduce congestion and travel time along with associated carbon emissions
- Car sharing reduces halves fuel use and promotes communication
- Promote motorcycles and mopeds as a more fuel efficient mode than cars
- Promote public transport, cycle and walking routes in new recruit and visitor information
- Support cyclists with bicycle racks, lockers and showers
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