smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

The government ought to introduce measures to help small and medium sized businesses go green, according to the Global Action Plan charity.

Spokeswoman Charlotte High says that SMEs often find it harder than larger firms to address green issues, because there is more pressure on staff time to address the environment and research the various options.

'SMEs are responsible for 40 per cent of carbon emitted by businesses so … we feel the government should implement measures to support them in the process of going green,' she says.

'The more help and guidance businesses can get the more likely they are to take action - action which is better for the environment and will likely make the business more efficient in the process.'

She notes that there are numerous changes that smaller firms can make in terms of how they conduct business day-to-day, and the supplier they use, that can save resources and cut costs.

She points to the example of a hotel that Global Action Plan worked with, which identified £13,000 annual savings made through better environmental management.

'Going green can be highly cost effective for small businesses as environmental savings often translate into financial savings as well,' she concludes.

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