As the end of the financial year approaches and plans for the next are put in place, Envirowise is urging office based companies in Scotland to explore new ways to save money - and boost their environmental credentials in the process.
With 25 million tonnes of waste produced by UK office based firms every year – and half of this going direct to landfill - there is a significant cost to both the environment and to businesses’ bottom line profits. Envirowise can help Scottish businesses reduce their impact on this wasteful trend through free advice and support on running a cost-effective, environmentally aware office. To get started, companies are invited to take the following steps:
1. Calculate in just 2 minutes potential office savings at www.maximiseprofit.org.uk
This web-based resource is the first step for companies looking for straightforward, affordable ways to reduce office waste. All you have to do is input a few basic details and the online calculator will reveal what sort of savings you could make on costs such as paper, waste disposal, water and heating.
2. Download some low cost/no cost savings tips at www.envirowise.gov.uk
Offices can access a range of publications, best practice guides and case studies from the Envirowise website. The Green Officiency Guide is particularly relevant to office businesses that want to reduce their impact on the environment and costs by improving the use of office resources. To download a copy visit, www. envirowise.gov.uk/GG256.
3. Speak to an Advice Line specialist by calling Envirowise on 0800 585 794
The 0800 585 794 Envirowise Action Line number offers free, confidential advice on identifying savings for UK businesses.
4. Arrange an Envirowise onsite resource efficiency review
To those businesses that need them, Envirowise also offers ‘Fasttrack’ onsite resource efficiency visits (Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales only), which see trained advisors working with companies to produce tailored waste minimisation plans, including savings targets, suggested actions on how to consume fewer resources and advice on legislation. To arrange a visit go to the Envirowise website or call the Envirowise Advice Line.
Envirowise Programme Manager for Scotland, Alan Hendry says: “With the new financial year just around the corner, this is a perfect time for office based companies to discover the financial benefits of becoming more resource efficient. We are challenging people to get their workplaces in shape for the new financial year - so they can start to benefit from the substantial economic gains.
Office tips on reducing waste and saving money can be found within the Green Officiency Guide on the Envirowise website but here are a few steps to getting started:
Paper Usage
- Set your printer to print on both sides of the paper by default. It will automatically reduce the amount of paper you use and thus reduce your paper budget
- Use 80g paper sheets rather than thicker paper and avoid printing on ‘flash’ paper unless you really have to. The thicker the paper you use the more paper you waste
- Issue documents electronically rather than in paper form
- Nominate a waste champion to implement and promote waste minimisation within the company
Water Consumption
- To reduce the amount of clean water used in every toilet flush, fit a water displacement device into cisterns – these are often available free of charge from your local water company
- Fit push-button taps to save up to half the water used through conventional taps. Push-button taps cannot be left on accidentally, help prevent floods in the event of a sink becoming blocked and are more reliable than hydraulic models, especially in areas of bad limescale
General Waste Minimisation
- Discourage excessive use of stationery by implementing an ordering system. This allows you to monitor departments and target high use areas for reductions
- Ensure that vending machines allow the use of china mugs rather than plastic vending cups
- Hold an annual ‘stationery amnesty’. A surprising amount of material can be recovered by asking staff to hand in all their unused equipment for re-use
Lighting Efficiency
- Replace tungsten bulbs with energy-efficient, compact fluorescent lamps and slimline tubes. They typically make immediate savings of 50% and last up to ten times longer
- Run a ‘Switch Off’ campaign. It is always cheaper to switch off lights, however short the time period
- Consider whole life energy cost savings - it may save you money in the long run to pay more initially, e.g. compact fluorescent light bulbs. Don’t forget to include the time spent and inconvenience of more frequent light bulb replacement
For more ways to cut waste and save money, businesses should visit www.envirowise.gov.uk
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Issued on behalf of Envirowise by Harrison Cowley. Media contacts: Laura McKenzie on 0131 226 2363.
About Envirowise
Envirowise delivers a valuable programme of confidential advice to UK businesses. This advice enables businesses to improve profitability and reduce environmental impact.
Independent, practical and proven guidance is available through the Envirowise Advice Line, information resources and on site visits (Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales only) delivered by a national team of expert advisors. Each solution is driven by the specific needs of individual firms to genuinely improve their business practices, profitability and competitiveness. Since 1994, Envirowise has helped UK industry save over £1 billion.
The Envirowise programme is available to any UK business, completely free of charge. For more information visit www.envirowise.gov.uk or call 0800 585 794.