Businesses to Profit from Environmental Event `Enviro Hour`

Released on: January 30, 2008, 5:37 am

Press Release Author: ali shah

Industry: Environment

Press Release Summary: Seventy nine per cent of the UK\'s small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) regard environmental issues to be important to their business,
and 48% believe they are more environmentally active than a year ago, but a third
are yet to take any action at all claims a new environmental survey conducted by
sustainable environmental agency, Envirowise.

Press Release Body: Amongst the more common obstacles quoted were a lack of time and
not knowing where to start to introduce leaner, more environmentally sustainable
practices.
In response, the government-funded programme has launched the \'Enviro Hour\' to help
UK businesses usefully spend just an hour a week converting their good intentions to
reduce carbon footprint into long-term financial savings.
Erika Coghlan, Marketing Director for Envirowise comments: "There are many simple
steps that can be taken by businesses to start the ball rolling. By using the time
available efficiently, businesses can start taking advantage of cost savings and an
enhanced reputation."
If businesses only have an hour a week to spend addressing environmental issues, the
introduction of an \'Enviro Hour\', will help them to focus on making the small,
simple changes that can have an immediate impact (see box below).
She continues: "The best place to start is by nominating an environmental
'champion\'. 71% of the surveyed businesses did not have a dedicated person whose job
included minimising environmental impact. They can then get on-track by making use
of the free advice available from business support organisations such as
Envirowise."
Envirowise offers free environmental advice to all companies throughout the UK to
help them understand effective resource management and how to take action
accordingly. For more information about this and to read all the latest
environmental publications visit our website or call free-phone on: 0800 585794.


Lists of things that can be done with an hour a week, day a week, day a month:
. One hour a week:
1. Nominate a champion who takes up the environmental challenge and encourages all
staff members to adopt more sustainable working practices.
2. Contact your suppliers and ask them to look at reducing their packaging so you
have less to dispose of.
. One day a week:
1. Begin a review of suppliers you work with, to ensure they have their own robust
environmental policies.
2. Begin writing an environmental policy that could be the starting point for a
structured approach to managing your environmental issues. It would allow you to
demonstrate their sustainable credentials to customers and competitors.
. One day a month:
1. If you are office-based, order a copy of the Envirowise 'Green Officiency\'
toolkit and start to work through its four stage programme to a more resource
efficient workplace.
2. Contact your landlord and ask about water 'hippos\'. Placing these in each toilet
cistern saves water with each flush.
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 environmental 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
. On-site visits conducted by a nationwide team of expert advisors
. Over 200 events each year, from Product Design Workshops to major exhibitions
. A nationwide network of Resource Efficiency Clubs offering peer-to-peer support


Web Site: http://www.envirowise.gov.uk

Contact Details: Envirowise
Kerry Bennett
Building 150,
Harwell SIC,
Oxon,
OX11 0RA
0800 595 794
01635 280348
alis@summitmedia.co.uk

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