Archive for January, 2008

Businesses to Profit from Environmental Event ‘Enviro Hour’

January 25, 2008 · Filed under Environmental Issue · Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Seventy nine per cent of the UK’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) regard environmental issues to be important to their business, and 48% believe they are more environmentally active than a year ago, but a third are yet to take any action at all claims a new environmental survey conducted by sustainable environmental agency, Envirowise.

Amongst the more common obstacles quoted were a lack of time and not knowing where to start to introduce leaner, more environmentally sustainable practices. In response, the government-funded programme has launched the ‘Enviro Hour’ to help UK businesses usefully spend just an hour a week converting their good intentions to reduce carbon footprint into long-term financial savings.

Erika Coghlan, Marketing Director for Envirowise comments: “There are many simple steps that can be taken by businesses to start the ball rolling. By using the time available efficiently, businesses can start taking advantage of cost savings and an enhanced reputation.” If businesses only have an hour a week to spend addressing environmental issues, the introduction of an ‘Enviro Hour’, will help them to focus on making the small, simple changes that can have an immediate impact (see box below).

She continues: “The best place to start is by nominating an environmental ‘champion’. 71% of the surveyed businesses did not have a dedicated person whose job included minimising environmental impact. They can then get on-track by making use of the free advice available from business support organisations such as Envirowise.” Envirowise offers free environmental advice to all companies throughout the UK to help them understand effective resource management and how to take action accordingly. For more information about this and to read all the latest environmental publications visit our website or call free-phone on: 0800 585794
Lists of things that can be done with an hour a week, day a week, day a month

  • One hour a week:
    1. Nominate a champion who takes up the environmental challenge and encourages all staff members to adopt more sustainable working practices.
    2. Contact your suppliers and ask them to look at reducing their packaging so you have less to dispose of.
  • One day a week:
    1. Begin a review of suppliers you work with, to ensure they have their own robust environmental policies.
    2. Begin writing an environmental policy that could be the starting point for a structured approach to managing your environmental issues. It would allow you to demonstrate their sustainable credentials to customers and competitors.
  • One day a month:
    1. If you are office-based, order a copy of the Envirowise ‘Green Officiency‘ toolkit and start to work through its four stage programme to a more resource efficient workplace.
    2. Contact your landlord and ask about water ‘hippos’. Placing these in each toilet cistern saves water with each flush.

Envirowise is a Government-funded programme dedicated to putting the sustainable use of resources at the heart of UK business practice.Since 1994 Envirowise has helped UK businesses save over £1 billion by enabling them to significantly reduce their environmental impact.Envirowise offers businesses of all sizes and sectors a wide range of free, independent and practical environmental advice designed to genuinely improve their processes, profitability and competitiveness. Services include:

  • Advice Line on 0800 585794
  • An encyclopaedic website of valuable and relevant information www.envirowise.gov.uk
  • On-site visits conducted by a nationwide team of expert advisors
  • Over 200 events each year, from Product Design Workshops to major exhibitions
  • A nationwide network of Resource Efficiency Clubs offering peer-to-peer support

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Sustainable practices, Sustainable profits, act now!!

January 21, 2008 · Filed under Uncategorized

Envirowise offer free and confidential advice and consultation to any UK business, helping you to reduce waste and maximise profits.  You also stay ‘onside of the new environmental legislations.

Envirowise can help your company make savings of thousands of £’s, for example;

Booker Belmont Wholesale achieved net savings of £33,050 in the first year and £106,700/year thereafter, by installing simple, low-cost water savings devices.

So don’t waste any more time and money act now!

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Save Our Planet, be Envirowise!

January 14, 2008 · Filed under Uncategorized

Would you really do anything for your children? If you care and want to do one thing for your children, and your children’s children please read on.
We’ve all noticed the temperatures getting a warmer, SUVs getting bigger and hurricanes and earthquakes ravaging the Earth. But do you realise we all contribute to this phenomena? It’s our job; it’s an Individual moral issue facing every member of the community, to look after our environment and make the world a better place to live in. Below are some everyday suggestions easily carried out by each and every one of us. It doesn’t take a lot to reduce your carbon footprint, every little helps, so lets all get together and give it a go.

Reduce your carbon footprint In your home;

1. Recycle everything: newspapers, bottles and cans, aluminium foil, etc.
2. Don’t use electrical appliances when you can easily do by hand, such as opening cans.
3. Use cold water in the washer whenever possible, this will also reduce costs.
4. Re-use brown paper bags to line your rubbish bin instead of plastic bags. Re-use bread bags and produce bags, take your card to a cardboard recycling plant.
5. Store food in re-usable containers.
6. Save wire hangers and return them to the dry cleaners.
7. Donate used items to a charitable organization or thrift shop.
8. Don’t leave water running needlessly.
9. Turn your heat down, and wear a sweater.
10. Turn off the lights, TV, or other electrical appliances when you are out of a room.
11. Flush the toilet less often.
12. Turn down the heat and turn off the water heater before you leave for your holidays.

In the garden

14. Start a compost pile.
15. Put up birdfeeders, birdhouses, and birdbaths.
16. Pull weeds instead of using herbicides.
17. Use only organic fertilizers.
18. Compost your leaves and yard debris, or take them to a yard debris recycler.
19. Take extra plastic and rubber pots back to the nursery. Take your card to a cardboard recycling plant.
20. Plant short, dense shrubs close to your home’s foundation to help insulate your home against cold.
21. Use mulch to conserve water in your garden.

In car

22. Keeping your car tuned up and your oil changed will also reduce costs.
23. Share your car into work, if possible.
24. Use public transit whenever possible.
25. On weekends, ride your bike or walk instead.
26. Buy a car that is more fuel-efficient and produces lower emissions.
27. Recycle your engine oil.
28. Keep your tires properly inflated.
29. Keep your wheels properly aligned.
30. Save trash and dispose of it at a rest stop.

Office life

31. Recycle cardboard, office and computer paper, recycle cardboard, etc.
32. Use scrap paper for informal notes to yourself and others.
33. Print or copy on both sides of the paper.
34. Use smaller paper for smaller memos.
35. Re-use manila envelopes and file folders.
36. Use dishes, glassware and coffee cups instead of disposable dishes and cups.

At the shops

37. Avoid buying food or products packaged in plastic or Styrofoam containers since they cannot be recycled.
38. Think twice about buying “disposable” products. (They end up in landfills.)
39. Buy paper products instead of plastic if you must buy “disposables.”
40. Buy energy-efficient appliances.
41. Buy locally grown food and locally made products when possible.
42. Don’t buy products made from endangered animals.

In your day to day life:

43. Join a conservation organization, the environmental agency will give free advice.
44. Volunteer your time to conservation projects.
45. Give money to conservation projects.
46. Switch to a vegetarian diet. (Raising animals for food consumes vast quantities of natural resources, including water, land, and oil; destroys habitats; and generates a tremendous amount of water and air pollution.)
47. Encourage your family, friends, and neighbours’ to save resources too.
48. Teach children to respect nature and the environment. Take them on hikes or camping. Help them plant a tree or build a birdhouse.

If you are a business.
No matter how big or small, try Envirowise, offer UK businesses, independent, confidential environmental advice and support on practical ways to go green business, increase profits, reduce costs, so why not attend one of these environmental events and help the world for generations to come.

Each year, Envirowise is involved in a number of events, workshops and exhibitions around the UK. Why not Attend an Envirowise event and get free expert advice on all the new environmental legislation, get all the latest environmental publications, see environmental case studies and get to discuss all the important issues affecting your company

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