What industry says...
npower business vs British Gas
The power sector currently contributes 24 per cent of greenhouse gas released into our environment, so if the UK is to meet the 60 per cent carbon reduction by 2050, energy providers seriously have their work cut out for them
As oil and gas supplies continue to decrease the power sector has been pushed towards the inevitable, to find alternative resources and look to renewable energy such as wind, solar, biomass, as well as the possibility of tidal and nuclear...
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Energy
Blue chips gone green
The big names in business are going full throttle to market their green initiatives, but who can shout the loudest in the battle for enviro-domination? Debbie Giggle explores energy saving strategies at three of the UK's major businesses and asks how smaller companies can join the energy efficiency parade
High street names are, it appears, falling over themselves to publicise their environmental initiatives. Are their motives sincere? Or are they simply clambering aboard the "green sells" bandwagon? You don't need to be Poirot, my dear...
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Environment
Something in the air
Air travel has expanded dramatically over the past 20 years. What is the environmental impact and what are operators, manufacturers and businesses doing to reduce it? Ruari McCallion takes a bird's-eye view
As Michael O'Leary, CEO of RyanAir, has pointed out in his normal very clear style, air travel is responsible for only a tiny fraction of total CO2 emissions. The actual figure is around 3.5 per cent, which is far below other sources,...
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Strategy
Green compliance
With environmental legislation increasing at a rate of knots, how are businesses expected to maintain the legality of these changing practices? Ruari McCallion looks at the current framework and asks what's next on the Government's agenda?
The good news is: no-one has yet gone out of business as a direct result of the raft of environmental legislation that has arrived and been implemented over the past several years. The bad news is: the costs of doing business in the UK -...
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Waste
Keeping it under WRAP
The food industry disposes of millions of tonnes of organic waste each year, yet new legislation means that landfill will soon cease to be an option. Jayne Flannery looks at the processes which the most far-sighted in the industry are adopting
Take the food chain in its entirety from farm to fork and the by-products, rejects and leftovers represent a mountain of waste amounting to over a third of what is produced in the UK - a staggering total of 17 million tonnes. Legislation...
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Strategy
Going off their trolleys
Green is not only an ethical imperative, Asda executive John Longworth tells Colin Chinery, it is a business must …greater competitive edge and profitability
As the Big Five supermarkets push to claim Britain’s Greenest Shopping Trolley, strategy is taking them down different aisles.
Waitrose backs Fair Trade for British Farmers – ‘fair trade begins at home’ – Marks and Spencer has pledged to...
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CSR
CSR Pay as you go?
Can the tricky relationship between profits, brand image and the environment ever truly be resolved? In an interview with Charlotte Grezo, director of corporate responsibility and Joaquim Croca, CR manager, Vodafone, we hear how the company is increasing profits and gaining points
At first glance, mobile phone companies have encountered their fair share of ecological finger pointing. And, they have mostly taken it on the chin. But from darker times have emerged a stronger, clearer corporate message of social...
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Finance
Green beans?
Why there’s no accounting for the taste financial controllers are acquiring for measuring and auditing eco-performance
Richard Spencer, corporate responsibility manager for the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW), raises the issue of how accountants are playing a new vital role in the measurement of green strategies and their ROI.
A bigger helping...
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Design
The new home ecologists
Red or Dead ‘punk’ fashion designer and Wimpey Homes may seem an unlikely match, but the drive for eco-chic is forcing traditional corporations to match ecology with profits
On 13 December 2006, the Code for Sustainable Homes – a new national standard for sustainable design and construction of new homes was launched. Since April 2007 the developer of any new home in England can choose to be assessed against the...
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GB Survey
Green Business Survey 2008
Over 400 key decision makers from some of the country’s leading companies across a wide range of sectors have given us a fascinating insight into how deeply imbedded the green agenda has become within corporate Britain.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, 93 per cent of respondents are concerned about the effects of global warming. However, 81 per cent can see a strong link between environmental concerns and their companies’ future success – 57 per cent say improving...
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