Knowledge Centre

1.1 Ensure regulatory compliance.

While there are no specific regulations compelling most businesses to commit to sustainable development, doing so will mean you are more likely to be aware of and comply with environmental regulations.

Key regulatory areas include waste management, health and safety-related laws covering hazardous chemicals or dangerous substances, packaging legislation and anti-pollution measures (see section 3).

1.2 Maximise potential for cost savings.

Minimising waste, getting the most out of materials and reducing energy consumption are key parts of any sustainable development policy - all of which can lead to cost savings.

1.3 Reduce the tax you pay.

Reducing waste production and energy consumption can reduce the built-in costs of environmental taxes such as landfill tax and the climate change levy.

If you buy approved energy-saving or water conservation plant and machinery, you may be able to claim Enhanced Capital Allowances and write off the cost against your tax bill in the first year.

1.4 Use the marketing benefits of positioning your business as environmentally responsible.

Consumers and businesses are increasingly attracted to environmentally sound suppliers. A proven commitment to sustainable development can both help safeguard existing business and extend your reach.

Offering sustainable products and services can add value to your products and services, possibly providing a point of differentiation with competitors. Some premium products may be more saleable if their environmental credentials can be proved.

2.1 Adopt a 'cradle to grave' approach.

Assessing your products and services throughout their lifecycle is essential to making the most of your commitment to sustainable development.

Failing to consider any of the stages in the lifecycle can fatally undermine your attempts. For example, if you use sustainable raw materials, reduce packaging and find ways to minimise your energy use, your efforts will be undermined if the product can only be disposed of through landfill.

2.2 Review your raw materials.

What are the raw materials you routinely use?

Where do you source them from?

Are your raw materials sustainable?

Do they contain any toxins or dangerous chemicals?

How far do they have to travel to reach you?

Have your suppliers made a commitment to sustainability?

2.3 Assess your business processes.

What energy sources do you use?

How much energy and water are you using?

What levels of waste do you create?

How do you dispose of your waste?

Do you use packaging? If so, what type and how much?

2.4 Examine how your products or services are delivered and sold.

What transport systems are routinely used by your business?

How are products delivered?

What sales methods do you use to sell your products and services?

2.5 Consider how your goods are used.

How durable are your products and services?

Are they easily upgradeable?

Can their lifespan be extended?

Is there any secondary market for your goods?

Do your customers use your goods or services to their maximum potential?

2.6 Analyse end-of-life issues for goods.

What do your customers do when your goods reach the end of their useful life?

Do they dispose of them? If so, how?

Can they be recycled or reused?

2.7 Isolate the issues you need to address.

The lifecycle assessment will immediately show any areas of your business that require attention as part of a commitment to sustainability.

It's likely that some small issues can be easily addressed, while others may need some fundamental rethinking of your processes.

If you can see 'quick wins', take them straight away. For example, if you are about to purchase plant or equipment, consider the most sustainable option which is compatible with your existing kit.

Larger issues should be considered as part of the wider strategy you will develop (see section 4).

3.1 Check environmental law in your sector.

When committing to sustainability, you must be sure that you comply with relevant environment and health and safety regulations.

There are no overriding regulations specifically defining sustainable processes - but if you are failing to comply with key environmental and safety laws, your business will not be running sustainably.

The key points to consider are outlined below.

3.2 Consider waste regulations.

Every business has a legally defined 'duty of care' to ensure safe treatment and disposal of the waste it creates. There are also specific, detailed regulations covering:

• effluent
• incineration
• animal by-products
• contamination of land and water
• electrical or electronic goods
• greenhouse gas and ozone depleting substance emissions
• dangerous or hazardous waste.

3.3 Review packaging regulations.

If you use packaging or sell products that are packaged, you must minimise the amount of packaging used, ensure the packaging can be reused or recycled and doesn't contain high levels of heavy metals. These are referred to as the Packaging - Essential Requirements regulations.

If you have a turnover of more than £2 million and handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging a year, you also have to comply with the Producer Responsibility Obligations, which mean you must register with the environmental regulator (the Environment Agency in England and Wales, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in Scotland and the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland), and recycle and recover specific amounts of the waste.

3.4 Check key health and safety requirements.

Some elements of health and safety legislation will have an impact on sustainability, such as:

• safe use and disposal of dangerous or hazardous substances, such as chemicals
• noise, dust and odour control
• pollution control.

3.5 Assess other requirements if you manufacture, distribute or sell goods.

There are sustainability-related regulations covering a variety of specific goods or components. Pay specific attention to regulations that cover:

• electronic and electrical equipment - the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive and the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulations
• vehicles that have reached the end of their useful lives (End of Life Vehicle Regulations)
• goods that use batteries: many batteries must be recycled.

4.1 Source and use sustainable raw materials.

You may be able to use more sustainable raw materials simply by a process of substitution. For example, you could use recycled paper or FSC wood from certified sustainable sources.

Examine the use of other businesses' waste.

What is waste to some firms could be used by others as a raw material. Check with the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme - it may be able to put you in touch with another suitable business. (www.nisp.org.uk) Tel: 0121 433 2650

4.2 Consider using certified sustainable supplies.

Opportunities for sourcing sustainable goods and services are increasing in many business sectors. For example, you can buy EU organic or Soil Association wholesale certified food, as well as Fairtrade Foundation goods.

4.3 Reduce waste.

Audit your waste. Check all your business processes and see where you may be able to increase efficiency. For example, can you reuse materials you are currently discarding?

Find out how and where waste is being created. Remember that waste isn't just what you throw away - it's also where you are not getting the best use out of a resource.

Focus first on the processes that have the worst environmental impact - for example, if you're sending a lot of waste to landfill, assess your other options for this waste first.

Use the waste hierarchy to find the most effective route to waste management. This hierarchy gives six waste reduction strategies in order of desirability - the higher up the hierarchy your solution is, the more effective it will be.

Consider your options in the following order:

• Prevention - can you avoid creating the waste?
• Minimisation - if it is absolutely necessary, can you reduce it?
• Reuse - can you reuse any of your waste?
• Recycling - if you can find no further use for the waste, can it be recycled?
• Energy recovery - can the waste be used to create energy?
• Disposal - the least favourable option.

4.4 Cut energy use.

Walking round your business is a surprisingly effective way to uncover where energy is being used unnecessarily.

For example, you may find that heating systems are switched on at times when they're not really needed or machinery and equipment is being left on while not in use.

If you have staff, it's a very good idea to involve them in the walk-round. As they are using the facilities day in, day out, they may be able to see more energy-saving measures than you.

Consider using an action plan from the Carbon Trust to cut your energy use. The plan is tailored according to your business size and type. Visit the Carbon Trust website (www.carbontrust.co.uk/APT/).

4.5 Minimise packaging.

Reducing packaging can cut your costs as well as making your business more sustainable.

Consider how much you can reduce your packaging. For example, are you using containers that are not completely filled? Can you use thinner or less packaging to carry out the same function?

Consider reusing packaging. Can you switch to reusable packaging or tailor your packaging so it can be used throughout the supply chain, avoiding repackaging?

If you can't further reduce or reuse packaging, try to ensure that what remains is recyclable or biodegradable.

4.6 Review your premises.

When you are renovating or even moving to new premises, there are a number of ways you can make them more sustainable.

Key areas to consider are:

• Making the building itself moderate temperature and humidity. This can be achieved through careful consideration of ventilation, windows and siting of heat-generating equipment. This will also reduce reliance on air conditioning equipment.
• Self-generating power: it may be possible to use methods such as solar, wind or biofuels with small adaptations to your premises.
• Making the most of your space: keeping your premises compact will reduce the amount of 'dead space' you provide heat and light to.
• Find more practical advice on the Sustainable Build website. (www.sustainablebuild.co.uk/).

5.1 Consider product sustainability from the start of the design stage.

Design is more that just what something looks like - it is a complete plan for how something is created and used from the beginning to end of its life.

At the design stage, consider if you can find ways to make the goods or services more efficient to use or make them last longer? Can you make their end of life more sustainable?

Are there raw materials that you can use that are more sustainable that perform a similar function? And if there are, can you adapt your existing processes to make use of these materials on other goods or services?

Can you improve your business model to make it more sustainable? For example, can you source materials from local suppliers, cutting transport costs and fuel use? Are there other ways to make your supply chain shorter? Or can you sell more effectively through the Internet or via local distributors than having a sales force on the road?

Consider using the free Design Track service from Envirowise which will help you assess the environmental impact of your business and how to reduce it. Find out more on the Envirowise website

6.1 Choose the right labelling scheme.

Use a labelling scheme to prove your commitment to sustainable development to customers. No one scheme is a 'gold standard' so you should consider which environmental claims are the most important to your customer base and find a scheme that matches those concerns as closely as possible.

The most widely recognised schemes include:

Remember that there are some mandatory labelling schemes - such as for household electrical appliances and cars.

Find out more about green labelling schemes on the Direct.gov website

Check competitors' products and services to see what standards and claims are already being made to your customers.

Ask your trade association about environmental labelling and accreditation schemes in your sector. For example, the coatings industry uses a labelling scheme to prove the content of potentially dangerous volatile organic compounds in products.

You can make your own claims about the environmental impact of your business, products or services. There is specific guidance about specific claims you can or cannot make - the Green Claims Code. While it is not a legal requirement to follow the Code, bear in mind that Trading Standards and the Advertising Standards Authority can take action against you if you make incorrect or unclear environmental statements about your business.

Find out more about the Green Claims Code in the guide Market your environmental credentials on the Business Link website.

You can also introduce an environmental management system that will provide your business with a recognised environmental standard, such as ISO 14001 or the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).

• The European Ecolabel - a Europe-wide scheme that uses a flower logo to show that a business' products or services meet demanding environmental standards.
• The green leaf organic logo of the EU, which is compulsory on all pre-packaged EU organic produce.
• The Soil Association and Organic Farmers and Growers labels, the most widely recognised in the UK.
• The Forest Stewardship Council - proves that any wood used in products comes from a well managed source.
• Energy Saving Recommended - showing goods are among the most energy-efficient available.
• The Mobius Loop - showing that products or parts of products are suitable for recycling.