Greener companies make for bottom line savings

The Environmental Management Initiative (EMI), a Scottish Enterprise programme, offers advice and support to businesses on topics such as energy efficiency, waste management, water consumption and effluent treatment and marketing environmental performance, to help them make financial, time and resource savings. 

In the west of Scotland alone, 300 delegates have participated in the programme benefiting from a 2,000 tonne reduction of CO2 emissions, 1,000 fewer tonnes of waste being sent to landfill and annual savings of £850,000.

The support came in many forms including workshops, one-to-ones with an experienced environmental consultant or signposting to a wide range of services and support available.   

Lena Wilson, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise is speaking at the event.  She said: “The ‘green’ message is undoubtedly one of the most prominent being pushed to businesses and individuals. 

“The move towards a low carbon economy offers huge opportunities to grow Scotland’s economy, which is why the Scottish Government has identified developing Scotland’s renewable energy sector as a priority.  We have a real opportunity to establish ourselves as an international role model not just in producing energy but how we consume energy.

“That’s why programmes such as EMI are becoming even more important.  Together we can help businesses operate more efficiently, help reduce their costs and improve their business competitiveness.”

Terasaki Electric (Europe) Ltd has participated in the programme.  The company, who deliver innovative circuit protection, control and system products for the electrical energy distribution network, has examined its environmental performance in great detail and has introduced measures to reduce energy consumption and ensure minimum waste generation.

Mike Furniss from Terasaki Electric (Europe) Ltd said: “We have recognised that environmental management and resource efficiency can have positive benefits to our business.  With support from Scottish Enterprise we have identified what measures we can take, to reduce both our impact on the environment and our costs.”

The event is taking place at the Radisson Hotel in Glasgow from 9.30am and is being hosted by Keith Aitken, one of Scotland’s respected and versatile journalists, with guest speaker Robert Holdway, Co-founder and Director of Giraffe Innovation.