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Is there a role for smaller businesses to play in addressing the rise of the carbon age and worries about clim change? Can they be part of the solution, a if so, how do they red their impact? Dee Mo Director of London Remade Solutions explains how offce recycling can help make your business more resource-effcient and reduce costs.

Climate change is a pressing issue that continues to capture public and media attention. Rising costs of energy, fuel and waste disposal mean that businesses have to rethink the way they manage their resources. Many struggle with new legislation and understanding what applies to them: keeping abreast of the changes and what it means in practical terms, requires knowledge, compliance and putting the right systems into place - all added pressures!

Opportunity knocks

Businesses that understand and react to climate change issues will be better placed to take advantage of new business opportunities.When tendering for suppliers, organisations are increasingly looking at corporate social responsibility when making a fnal decision. many, recycling is a simple nd effective frst step towards mproving environmental credentials.

So is recycling benefcial from a carbon footprint perspective? Research by WRAP into greenhouse gas emissions, indicates that it is. Between 10 and 15 million tonnes of carbon dioxide are saved annually m recycling, equivalent to oving 3.5 million cars off oads.

SMEs can reap the ts of recycling

n struggle to recycle the ey generate. Other business priorities and resource constraints are all potential barriers. However, once the penny drops that it’s good for business as well as the environment, companies can utilise this to become more sustainable and reduce their waste management costs in the process.

For example, London Remade Solutions helped CHP Consulting (asset fnance software specialists) put in place a recycling system setting them on course to divert over eight tonnes of waste from landfll in the frst year. Jo Rolland of CHP said: “As a result of this service we have now selected a recycling provider and the scheme has been running successfully for 6 months now. I’m sure that there are improvements that we can make to the scheme over time and I feel confdent that London Remade Solutions would also be able to provide good advice on the type of improvements to make.” So far, CHP have recycled 1,431kg of waste resulting in savings of almost 2 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Looking up and down your supply chain is important.What you do with the material you are recycling can really make a difference to carbon savings. Glass, for example, when sent for closed-loop recycling creates a larger carbon reduction than if you send that material to be re-processed into aggregate.

CHP Consulting was overwhelmed by the choice of recycling service-providers. London Remade Solutions put them in-touch with the right provider by taking account of materials up and down-stream.

Making a start

• audit – establish your baseline by reviewing current practices and what materials make up your waste. Seek input from staff through surveys and other engagement activites. • regulation compliance is essential – Duty of Care, Landfll Regulations (including pre-treatment requirements), Climate Change Levy and Producer Responsibility Obligations are just a few examples of current legislation you need to be aware of.

• board involvement – seek leadership from your board and senior management at the outset. • make it easy – place recycling bins conveniently next to printers and photocopiers and in other communal areas.

• communications – make people aware of the scheme and what’s expected of them. This could be through staff briefngs, posters, e-bulletins and training. Visual reminders also help to maintain awareness. • monitoring and feedback – set in place a system enabling you to capture valuable data and track results. Let people know how they are doing including amounts recycled as encouragement to keep up the good work.

What is clear is we are in a period of change and transition where climate change is concerned. For those who understand the changing dynamics of the carbon landscape, there are opportunities to be had – SMEs in the capital can be key players in responding to challenges brought about by climate change by innovating and taking a lead. Let’s work together to make London’s businesses sustainable.

Dee Moloney is Director of London Remade Solutions, a consultancy focusing on resource effciency and recycling measures for businesses and local authorities. Readers interested in greening their business can visit www.londonremade.com for more information.

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Lightening the load

Reducing your carbon footprint through recycling