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Switched off to environmental issues? Doing your bit with cutting waste but missing where the next opportunity lies? Or perhaps you are totally committed to environmental action in your business?
If any of those characters sound familiar, it’s not surprising. The Envirowise programme suggests that the environmental behaviour of employees is routed in four different ‘eco characters’. And the key to a more profitable and sustainable business is making the best of these characters, which can be summarised as:
Eco-sceptics are non-committed individuals who perhaps have doubts over the motive to act on environmental issues.
Eco-ignorers undertake the obvious mainstream activities, but are blinkered to the opportunities to take firmer environmental action.
Eco-implementers are typically committed implementers of resource efficient activity, going beyond the most obvious actions.
Eco-innovators are pioneers that look to seize the opportunity to improve competitiveness through completing environmental activities.
Paul Gilbert, Envirowise Regional Manager for the South West, commented: “In every company, employees will have different attitudes when it comes to environmental and sustainability issues.
“We hope that South West’s business managers will see that recognising the attitudes of their staff is crucial in encouraging positive behaviour change on environmental matters. We’re not trying to say that a company of eco-innovators is best – rather managers should look to take the best from each employee in order to form an effective environmental team.”
Gary Pheiffer, Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Senior Lecturer at London Metropolitan University, added: “The definition of these eco-characters suggests that to bring about organisational change we cannot take a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
“Crucially, businesses must tailor their activities to reflect the needs and potential of different individuals. For example, awareness-raising activities or events may be useful for ‘unfreezing’ the eco-sceptics, while the eco-innovators could be called on to help enter their organisation for awards linked to sustainable action – which in turn could send out a strong message to their competitors.”
Envirowise can offer free, tailored advice to any company wanting guidance on becoming more sustainable – via a free advice line (0800 585 794), or via www.envirowise.gov.uk.
- Ends -
Issued on behalf of Envirowise by Trimedia Harrison Cowley
For more information contact:
Peter Stilwell on 0117 929 2311 / peter.stilwell@trimediahc.com
Rod Dennis on 0117 929 2311 / rod.dennis@trimediahc.com
Rachael Kilburn on 0117 929 2311 / rachael.kilburn@trimediahc.com
Notes to Editors
For more information about the Centre for Occupational and Business Psychology at London Metropolitan University, visit www.londonmet.ac.uk/depts/dops/psychworks
Envirowise is a Government-funded programme dedicated to putting the sustainable use of resources at the heart of UK business practice.
Since 1994 Envirowise has helped UK businesses save over £1 billion by enabling them to significantly reduce their environmental impact.
Envirowise offers businesses of all sizes and sectors a wide range of free, independent and practical advice designed to genuinely improve their processes, profitability and competitiveness. Services include:
- Advice Line on 0800 585794
- An encyclopaedic website of valuable and relevant information www.envirowise.gov.uk
- Over 200 events each year, from Product Design Workshops to major exhibitions
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