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Deloitte

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS CONTINUE TO MOVE UP WEST BUSINESS AGENDA

More companies introduce official “green” policies, according to latest Deloitte survey

Growing numbers of businesses in the West of England are making the environment and sustainability part of official company policy – and becoming more aware of their carbon footprint.

Most say they have the subject high on their agenda and are attaching increasing importance to climate change and energy and transport issues in the day-to-day running of their businesses.

The trends have emerged from the latest monthly survey from leading business advisory firm Deloitte.

Mark Hill, partner at Deloitte in Bristol, commented: “What is particularly pleasing is the way that environmental and sustainability issues are becoming an integral part of company policy in the region. In many cases it appears that they are no longer an add-on or an afterthought, but a permanent part of company strategy.”

BUSINESSES AND THEIR SUPPLIERS

Almost 80 per cent of businesses say environmental and sustainability issues have become an important factor for their businesses and more than half (54 per cent) – up from 37 per cent – have a formal policy.

There was also a major increase in those trying to establish the extent of their carbon footprint. Since Deloitte began surveying companies on the subject, the total has grown steadily from 23 per cent to 53 per cent, and now stands at 71 per cent.

Companies with a designated person responsible for an environmental policy remains at around 50 per cent.

Meanwhile energy efficient light bulbs (26 per cent), natural ventilation (23 per cent) and draught strips on windows and doors (19 per cent) are again the most popular methods of encouraging sustainability and other environmentally friendly measures include automatic taps and “smart” metering.

Companies using members of staff to ensure that basic steps such as switching off IT equipment and lights are carried out remains almost static at just over 20 per cent.

But a fall is revealed in the number of “sustainability audits” being carried out by businesses on their buildings, from 40 per cent to around 30 per cent.

Dissatisfaction with the level of support and information from the Government and public agencies on environmental and sustainability issues continues at a high level but is down from more than 80 per cent last time to 54 per cent today.

There is also an increase in the use of local suppliers, with 39 per cent of companies now sourcing up to a tenth of their supplies from their local area.

 WASTE AND RECYCLING

More than four out of every five respondents (83 per cent) say they try to recycle all their waste when possible, according to the latest Deloitte survey, and a fifth estimate that they deal with more than 70 per cent of their material that way. A further two-fifths recycle between 10 per cent and 30 per cent.

More than one quarter put the proportion of their equipment either recycled or environmentally friendly at between 10 and 20 per cent and about one third say their figure is even higher.

“This is another positive finding and reinforces the fact that many companies are going to the trouble of incorporating specific environmental policies that make a real difference,” said Mark Hill.

 TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT

Another increase is reported in the number of firms in the West who have introduced an environmentally friendly transport policy. Since the first survey on this topic, the figure has almost doubled from 19 per cent to 37 per cent.

The total with a formal car-sharing scheme recovered slightly from last time to stand at 16 per cent compared to the previous 10 per cent but there was a fall in cycle racks and cycle ways that are now provided by 53 per cent – down 15 per cent.

There are also fewer firms (30 per cent down to 17) considering the use of “smart” vehicles or hybrids for company car users.

Almost three-quarters of companies questioned said that between 10 and 30 per cent of their staff walked, cycled or used public transport to get to work – little change from previous research – but more than 10 per cent said their figure was between 60 and 70 per cent.

Mark Hill commented that although a sizeable number of businesses said they had an environmentally-friendly approach to transport, the figures suggested that in some cases this was not being translated into action.

“It would have been good to see more businesses looking at car sharing and a more positive approach to the use of company cars that would ease congestion and cause less environmental damage,” he said.

“Overall, there is still a long way to go and clearly more of our companies need to take a close look at what is achievable. Of course this will help the environment, but very often it can also make a positive difference to the bottom line.”

 ENDS                         3rd September 2008

 

For further information please contact Neil Fraser, Sturgess Van Damme, on 01275 349 011 or email neil@sturgessvandamme.co.uk