SMEs greener, but in denial
Aug 18 2009
The number of small businesses taking action to improve their energy and water efficiency has doubled in two years, claims a survey by environmental guidance website NetRegs.gov.uk.
More than half now have measures in place to reduce the harm they do to the environment, with 84 per cent recycling their waste, up from 66 per cent in 2007.
However, just one in five plans to invest in improving their environmental performance over the next year, and 46 per cent of firms still undertake environmentally damaging activities.
Debbie Chatting, strategy manager at NetRegs, says: ‘It’s good to see improvement in SMEs’ green business activities, but efforts are clearly starting to fall back in many areas.
‘Our survey has unearthed a level of denial among some small businesses who still don’t acknowledge the harm that they can do to the environment. SMEs make up 99 per cent of British business so their cumulative impact is huge. They simply cannot be apathetic or maintain indifference.’
According to research by watchdog Consumer Focus, the majority of customers are wary of believing businesses' green credentials, with some concerned that they are used as an excuse to bump up prices.
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