Can going green help you obtain new business as well as reduce your energy bills? We think it can
You may think that buying decisions are never based on ‘green’ matters – especially in a recession, when price is often considered a much more persuasive factor – but in fact this isn’t quite accurate, at least, not any more. True enough, few customers will buy on this alone, but as the green agenda is gaining prominence, a company’s eco-credentials are becoming increasingly important.
In some sectors, this is thanks to government legislation. For example, new Building Regulations have ensured that construction companies and developers have had to specify more energy-efficient heating systems and better insulation, while the Carbon Reduction Commitment has encouraged certain heavier industries to improve efficiency. The knock-on effect is to generally raise the profile of eco-friendly practices, and as a result, more and more business decision makers take note of environmental credentials – indeed, these days if you want to tender to the public sector, you’ll need to provide detailed evidence proving them.
If you’ve already taken action to green your business, then make sure it’s obvious in your communications with existing and potential customers. Do you always print on recycled paper? Make sure you highlight this on every document. Have you won awards for your eco-friendly practices? Then flag this up in a prominent place on your website (and if you haven’t won, consider entering such awards).
The ultimate in best environmental practice accreditation is the ISO14001, which is designed to strike a delicate balance between maintaining profitability and reducing environmental impact. Intended for businesses large and small, across all sectors, this standard will show you how to measure consumption and reduce waste, reducing costs in both environmental and financial terms – and it’s often a key requirement for large organizations putting projects out for tender. To find out more, visit http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_14000_essentials – the website of the International Organization for Standardization.
