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sustainabletimes
05
www.binfo.co.uk
Mid-sized businesses
use sustainability as a
differentiator
Mid-tier organisations regard carbon regulations as the
most significant sustainability risk to their business,
according to a survey by Verdantix for Grant Thornton,
and are already taking steps to minimise their impact.
In anticipation of an extension of mandatory carbon
reporting beyond the 1,600 companies listed on the main
London Stock Exchange, 80% of organisations with turnovers
of £250 million to £1 billion already have board-level
accountability for sustainability reporting, with 51% of CEOs
taking personal responsibility for it.
More than nine out of 10 (92%) state that sustainability
is either ‘very important’ or ‘important’ to the overall
success of their organisation and up to 70% have fully or
partially enshrined sustainability metrics in their corporate
financial targets.
Two thirds of respondents (67%) include sustainability
information in some form of external reporting – either as
a standalone sustainability report or within their annual
report. However less than half (43%) use independent
external verification of their sustainability efforts to ensure it
is accurate, complete and balanced.
Customers are seen as the most important audience
for information on sustainability efforts, cited by 84%,
perhaps reflecting efforts by the largest listed companies to
reduce their own carbon impact by choosing suppliers with
sustainable products.
Jane Stevensen, Head of Sustainability at Grant Thornton,
said: “Medium-sized businesses are the backbone of the
UK economy and the CEOs of these firms recognise the
importance of sustainability and are taking personal
accountability for this. It is clear from this report that
mid-tier companies that take the initiative integrating and
publicising sustainability alongside financial reporting will be
able to differentiate their brands with investors, shareholders
and customers.”
Grant Thornton also asked mid-tier organisations what
they felt were the most significant sustainability risks for
them over the next two years. In order of importance,
respondents cited carbon regulations; energy prices; water
scarcity; environmental regulations; rising commodity
prices; extreme weather and the risk of their products being
substituted for more sustainable competitor offerings.
The key areas for capital investment in the same
period are on-site renewable energy; video conferencing
technology; projects to make buildings more energy efficient;
data centre improvements; electric vehicles for the company
fleet; software for energy and carbon management; and
equipment to reduce industrial emissions.”
www.grant-thornton.co.uk
Talking rubbish
Intelligent bins that send a message
to binmen when they need to be
emptied have enabled a council in the
Netherlands to cut its carbon footprint
by a fifth.
The City Council of Groningen is one of
25 local authorities working with Vodafone
M2M and waste management business
Mic-O-Data in the roll-out of 6,000
connected bins across the country.
The bins fitted with Vodafone M2M
SIMs send daily status signals, alerting
refuse collectors when they are getting
full and need to be emptied, ensuring that
the council no longer makes unnecessary
journeys to collect empty bins.
Sustainability consultancy
Environmental Resources Management
has calculated that in just one year,
the council has reduced its carbon
emissions by 30 tonnes and saved around
€
92,000 (£72,000) in reduced fuel and
maintenance costs.
Perch here
greenAgenda…
Blue Forest has designed its eco-Perch as
a sustainable and luxurious alternative
to permanent caravan and timber lodge
accommodation. The double-glazed
timber pod is compliant with the UK
Caravan & Mobile Homes Act and can
be installed (on the ground or in a tree)
in five days with minimal disruption. It is
equipped with low voltage LED lighting;
a wall-mounted flat screen TV and DVD;
efficient A-rated LPD or electric water
heating; and an L-shaped worktop and
breakfast bar, with integrated fridge, sink
unit, gas hob and oven. For its launch
at this year’s Grand Designs show, Blue
Forest chose Granite Transformations’
Dream Green recycled glass agglomerate
for the worktop and breakfast bar. The
material is made from used beer, wine
and mineral water bottles and is available
in a choice of colours.
www.granitetransformations.co.uk
www.blueforest.com
On-site renewable energy is a key
focus for mid-sized organisations.
Ecotricity installed this wind turbine
at Sainsbury’s East Kilbride cold store
and distribution centre in 2001. One of
the first examples of Merchant Power
– providing green energy at point of
use and avoiding the costs of using the
grid for delivery – the turbine provides
enough green electricity each year to
power about a third of the depot.
Sustainable
Editor’s Choice Award
Vodafone