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Recession Encourages and Delays Going Green
Listed under: News
Published: Friday, December 04, 2009
Approximately 22% of small businesses in the UK have delayed implementing environmentally-friendly measures over the past year due to the current economic climate, according to a recent survey by business advisory specialist, the Forum of Private Business (FPB).
The findings – which also reveal that 17% of smaller enterprises actively embraced greener practices for the same reason – suggest that the recession has had a double-edged effect on the retail sector, causing some businesses to compromise their ethics in favour of cutting costs, and others to stay true to their morals, regardless of the financial cost.
Interestingly, the survey also revealed that the majority of respondents had not taken the current economic climate into account when deciding on their environmental policies for the year ahead, with 61% saying it had absolutely no impact on their ethical decisions at all.
However, the report also reveals that up to 26% of businesses in the UK currently have no environmental measures in place, with the majority of companies citing cost as the biggest reason for their not doing so. Other barriers include planning issues, poor knowledge about where to access grants and information, and lack of time.
Of the companies who have made changes, 83% have done so because they believe it is the right thing to do. Other motivating factors include reputation, saving money and the fact that it assists with winning Government contracts.
Commenting on the research, the FPB's policy representative, Matt Goodman, says, “When small businesses are considering implementing environmentally-friendly policies, the will is certainly there, but it is often thwarted by the perception of steep costs and a lack of information and support.”
He continues, “It is therefore important to emphasise that measures to reduce carbon emissions can mean savings on the bottom line, but we also need a more joined-up approach from the Government, including a system of workable incentives that are rewarding rather than punitive.”
The findings – which also reveal that 17% of smaller enterprises actively embraced greener practices for the same reason – suggest that the recession has had a double-edged effect on the retail sector, causing some businesses to compromise their ethics in favour of cutting costs, and others to stay true to their morals, regardless of the financial cost.
Interestingly, the survey also revealed that the majority of respondents had not taken the current economic climate into account when deciding on their environmental policies for the year ahead, with 61% saying it had absolutely no impact on their ethical decisions at all.
However, the report also reveals that up to 26% of businesses in the UK currently have no environmental measures in place, with the majority of companies citing cost as the biggest reason for their not doing so. Other barriers include planning issues, poor knowledge about where to access grants and information, and lack of time.
Of the companies who have made changes, 83% have done so because they believe it is the right thing to do. Other motivating factors include reputation, saving money and the fact that it assists with winning Government contracts.
Commenting on the research, the FPB's policy representative, Matt Goodman, says, “When small businesses are considering implementing environmentally-friendly policies, the will is certainly there, but it is often thwarted by the perception of steep costs and a lack of information and support.”
He continues, “It is therefore important to emphasise that measures to reduce carbon emissions can mean savings on the bottom line, but we also need a more joined-up approach from the Government, including a system of workable incentives that are rewarding rather than punitive.”
