Greener companies make for bottom line savings
Greener ways of working can increase company profits according to Scottish Enterprise.
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 south of Scotland, 87 companies have participated in the programme with individual businesses reporting savings of over 220 tonnes of CO2 emissions and annual savings of £17,000 to their bottom line.
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 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.”
Peebles based Caledonian Colour Printers, a family run printing business, has participated in the programme since 2009 and is already realising real business benefits as a result.
Its commitment to quality and sustainability was instrumental this year in being accepted on to the Scottish Governments DPPAS framework of suppliers for print work, and through implementing an integrated Quality and Environmental Management System, it will gain international ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification standards later this year.
The company is also working towards reducing its waste and increasing its recycling.
Keith Cockburn, managing director of Caledonian Colour Printers said: “We are very grateful for the help and encouragement we have received from Scottish Enterprise. Working towards and achieving better environmental and quality management has directly contributed to developing our business, and our inclusion in the DPPAS Framework. Good environmental practices and company management are extremely important to us and our customers, with the majority of our customers now having some form of environmental criteria to be met, in the way in which their work is produced.”