THERE are many incentives for businesses to go green.
The business sector is one of the top consumers of energy. Small businesses can save more than £20 billion by reducing energy consumption by 30 per cent.
Printing is another area where savings can be made. Double-sided printing can reduce paper use by up to 50 per cent; companies can save 25 to 50 per cent on ink costs by buying reusable ink cartridges.
A poll conducted by Monster-TRAK.com, a website for students, found 92 per cent of students would be more willing to work for a company that was environmentally friendly.
Around 80 per cent of young professionals would prefer a job that has a positive impact on the environment.
A Carbon Trust survey found 64 per cent of people were more likely to use a business with a low carbon footprint.
What is green business? A sustainable business, or green business, is an enterprise that has no negative impact on the global or local environment, community, society or economy. Often, sustainable businesses have progressive environmental and human rights policies.
In general, a business is described as green if it meets certain criteria. It should incorporate principles of sustainability into its business decisions.
It should also supply environmentally friendly products or services, replacing demand for non-green alternatives.
It should be greener than traditional competitors and it should have made an enduring commitment to environmental principles in its business operations.
A sustainable business participates in environmentally friendly or green activities, to ensure that all processes, products, and manufacturing activities address environmental concerns while maintaining a profit. In other words, it is a business that meets the needs of the present world without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.