smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Going green won't make your business a success, but it can certainly increase its efficiency, such as through cutting down on fuel costs and general overheads.

Respondents to a recent survey by BT Tradespace said their green / environmental initiatives fell under the following:

Recycling: 25 per cent
Cutting back on energy use: 17 per cent
More home working / flexible working: 12 per cent
Using less packaging on products: 11 per cent

There are less practical approaches to consider, such as opting for a "carbon-neutral" status. Not so long ago, an office services company spent around £120,000 in trying to achieve a carbon neutral status.

The investment apparently led to benefits for both the environment and the balance sheet - £1 million of new business was generated from the move. Part of the reason new clients came on board was because they were impressed by an "ethically-minded"
organisation.

Now while the sums of money may sound extreme, the point is that consumers and suppliers regard green as important. In fact, it's already become mainstream for many businesses.