How green is your business

There is increasing motivation, both morally and commercially, to become greener and source locally.  The time to act is now for the benefit of your business.  There is clear evidence to show that businesses which reduce their environmental impacts ‘are more sustainable, profitable, valuable and competitive’.  (Environment Agency).  There are many low cost actions you can take to start; you will save money and improve your sustainability, it really is good for business. 

Many businesses soon realise that improving efficiency and greening their business is not a one-off exercise once they see the benefits and want to do more.  Why not consider taking part in the Green Tourism Business Scheme, gaining accreditation and acknowledgement for your good practice and receiving ongoing detailed advice on how to achieve constant improvements. 

There are many measures you can take to green your business and some very sophisticated tools for monitoring and benchmarking your progress. There is a lot of information about going green and it is easy to get bogged down or feel overwhelmed at the size of the challenge. However small steps are better than no steps and the measures you take will be inspiring and motivating to your visitors and your staff.

The following list is by no means exhaustive but it offers some simple suggestions to get you going. 

Purchase environmentally friendly goods and services

• Purchase locally and sustainably produced food and drink
• Use ethical banking
• Consider the whole 'life cycle' of goods when you buy them, choosing those which are made from the most sustainable raw materials, run most efficiently, last longest and finally can be recycled or dismantled with the least environmental damage when they reach the end of their life. These might be white goods, textiles, printed material or furniture

Reduce carbon emissions by lowering the amount of fossil fuel used for electricity production and heating

• Change to a renewable energy supplier
• Use low energy light bulbs
• Reduce the time lighting is in use, which may involve the use of improved lighting controls or just encourage visitors and staff to turn off lights - and tell them why!
• Turn off electrical equipment such as TV and computers - a TV left in standby mode uses at least 60% of the electricity that would be used if you were watching it
• Consider installing Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) on radiators to allow for better control of heating within different areas of the building
• Replace your old, inefficient appliances with goods carrying the E.U. energy label and save energy and money
• Insulate the loft, hot water tanks, walls and floors
• Use small kettles in guest rooms

Help your visitors reduce car use

• Provide information on walking, cycling and public transport
• Practise waste minimisation - Eliminate, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle -  where possible and encourage guests to do the same:
• Provide recycling and compost bins in self catering accommodation
• Look into supplier take back agreements. This is where the suppliers of certain goods such as some computers, electrical goods, drinks containers and carpets will take goods back and recycle them instead of them going into landfill sites
• Choose goods with minimal packaging

Save and manage water

• Installing toilets with low flush and duel flush systems (or consider composting toilets for camp sites and outdoor attractions)
• Using water savings devices in older cisterns (www.hippo-the-watersaver.co.uk)
• Using low consumption appliances such as washing machines with water economy programmes
• Collecting rainwater, in water butts to water gardens
• Consider gardening methods which reduce water use such as mulching and drought resistant plants
• Encouraging visitors to take short showers instead of baths - explain why!

Encourage wildlife and biodiversity

• Wildlife gardening to encourage native species
• Providing nesting boxes
• Providing information and interpretive materials for nature walks

Communicate with customers, suppliers and your local community to get across your Green message

• Involve others
• Celebrate the changes you make
• Get recognition and promotion by signing up to the Green Tourism Businesses Award Scheme
• Produce a green policy or statement. Promote this along with any accreditation and credentials on publicity and communications