Every business will have to tighten their environmental standards in the near future. Read our tips to get ahead of the game.

1. Assess the environmental impact of the materials and energy you use, the waste and emissions you produce, your transport operations and the products you supply.

2. Consider the potential risks of an accident; check whether you are insured against environmental risks.

3. Investigate the regulations which apply to your business, and any forthcoming changes.

4. Find out what customers and employees expect, and how better environmental performance could improve your marketing and recruitment.

5. Decide whether you should implement a formal standard such as ISO 14001.

6. Ask key suppliers of materials, utilities and equipment how they can contribute to your environmental efforts.

7. Find out what help — often free — is offered by organisations such as the Environment Agency, your local authority and your trade association.

8. Design products to minimise waste, packaging and the use of environmentally unfriendly materials and production processes.

9. Store and dispose of waste safely; ensure your waste collector is registered to handle your form of waste, and does so properly.

10. Encourage employees to save energy; consider investing in energy-efficient equipment.

11. Ensure that any discharges and emissions, and other effects such as noise or dust from your business, are not merely authorised but minimised or eliminated if possible.

12. Prepare an action plan to deal with any shortcomings.

13. Review the environmental impact before committing to new projects.

14. Communicate your environmental commitment to customers and others through your product labelling, PR and other promotional efforts.

Cardinal Rules

Do:

• investigate the environmental impact of your business
• tackle problem areas
• check what regulations apply to your business
• take advantage of free help
• let people know you are environmentally responsible.

Don’t:

• use wasteful processes and equipment
• dispose of waste carelessly or illegally
• ignore the business benefits of better environmental management.

Contact:

• Environment and Energy Helpline, 08459 33 55 77; www.defra.gov.uk/environment/
• The Carbon Trust, 0800 085 2005; www.thecarbontrust.co.uk
• Envirowise, 0800 585794, www.envirowise.gov.uk
• Environment Agency, 08708 506 506; www.environment-agency.gov.uk

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