Envirowise Regional Manager, Kate Haigh, calls on companies in the East of England to make the efficient use of resources an integral part of their future business strategies.
Kate Haigh, East of England Regional Manager for Envirowise - a nationwide programme that provides free and practical, cost-saving advice to business - says 2007 is quickly becoming the year that businesses will have no choice but to take action to lower their environmental impact.
As businesses in the region focus on getting one step ahead of the competition, now is the time for them to ensure that the efficient use of resources, and a commitment to cutting unnecessary waste, becomes embedded within business processes. The benefits are clear - by placing the topic firmly on the management agenda, combined savings of £370m could be made – and that's just in the region's offices.
By building in this commitment - from using less paper in offices to designing out components in manufactured products – companies can start saving real money.
A further advantage of acting now is that resource efficiency can gradually become embedded in company culture – something that all employees can be proud of and customers and suppliers can really take notice of.
Envirowise recommends business managers ask themselves the following questions:
- Goals - have your environmental objectives been considered as part of your wider business goals?
- Finance - could initial investment in more efficient technology offer long term cost and raw material savings?
- Market - what are your competitors doing about their environmental impact, are you missing a trick?
- R & D - could you adopt a 'cleaner' approach in your product design, services or packaging, to minimise waste and maximise margins?
- People – can you make the environment a key part of your organisation's employee charter or mission statement, making you more appealing as an employer?
- Marketing - if you are taking positive action, do your clients, suppliers and potential customers know about it?
Businesses of any size or sector can make use of the package of free help and advice available from Envirowise (0800 585 794).
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Issued on behalf of Envirowise by Trimedia Harrison Cowley. Media Contacts: Louise Harris or Rod Dennis on 0117 929 2311.
About Envirowise
Envirowise delivers a valuable programme of free, confidential advice to UK businesses of all sizes — helping them become more resource efficient to reduce their environmental impact and save money. This independent, practical guidance is available through our Advice Line 0800 585 794, our website and a national team of expert advisors who carry out on-site reviews. Since 1994, Envirowise has helped UK industry save over £1 billion.