Environmental charity Global Action Plan has launched a charter for a green work and travel revolution to help businesses cope with disruptions caused by the London 2012 Olympics.
According to Global Actipon Plan (GAP), with just two weeks to go until the opening ceremony, only one in three London workers has special plans for the delivery of essential goods and services during the Olympic period.
This could prove a problem, both for manufacturers based in the Greater London region, but also for those with customers or suppliers in the area.
In addition, only one in four London workers say their business has communicated plans on how to commute more effectively during the busy time of the Olympic Games and under one in five say plans have been made for continuity in business related travel such as travel to client meetings.
There are 112,000 people employed by the manufacturing sector in the Greater London region accroding to EEF. This workforce acounts for 2% of the area’s total output and a combined £7.7bn in GVA.
GAP, which provides the UK’s only green behaviour change projects endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme. The charter it has launched proposes way for businesses to turn the operational challenges raised by the London 2012 Olympics into opportunities to increase productivity, cut costs and become more green.
Global Action Plan CEO Trewin Restorick said that time is running out for businesses to prepare themselves and avoid losses to productivity but added that there was a “good news” opportunity to “revolutionise the way we work”
UK businesses spend £17.5 billion per year on business travel, said Mr Restorick. “That’s escalating all the time, as is the carbon this results in. There are better ways of doing business that can boost productivity, motivate employees and lower carbon emissions.”
Restorick gave the examples of flexible working which allows employees to cut down on carbon heavy commutes which are not always necessary.
“Our charter for business makes practical recommendations that can be easily implemented – even with only a few weeks to go,” said Restorick. “It’s a win-win situation for both employers and employees, changing work and travel patterns for good, with the potential to leave a meaningful green Olympic legacy.”
