Anyone having to think about environmental issues?

Anyone having to think about environmental issues?

Didn't find your answer?

Would be grateful for any feedback on any action being taken or considered on business environmental issues by you or businesses you deal with?

The ICAEW, ACCA & CIMA in particular are clearly talking to large firms on this and issue loads of reports etc but none of it seems to filter down to the small end.  Similarly, many large companies have set up "CSR" (Corporate Social Responsibility) functions throughout their business and supply chains to make, what is commonly called "Sustainability", part of what they do and I have also seen this in small businesses I deal with, but it's very patchy.

The "paperless" topic has probably been the biggest area where most firms and businesses have taken this up as well as recycling and waste management, followed by perhaps looking at more fuel efficient cars, less energy use etc, ie the sort of stuff many do at home, however, what started the whole thing going "Carbon emissions" still seems to be a side issue, or no issue at all.

So what I'm interested in is whether you have seen changes in your own company, practice or in clients on any of this and if not, why you think this is.

Many I know will say, it's too confusing, don't know where to start, don't care or the government/scientists need to make it clear what we should do, whereas others may have seen or started things themselves and even come across pressure to get the ball rolling. 

One of my clients for example is not able to land projects with companies & government departments unless they jump through hoops over their environmental practices, whereas another client landed a contract with a huge multi-national the other day and faced no questions at all.

Any comments will be welcome really, even if it's "don't know" or "I'm to busy making money" (or feeding the kids).

Thanks in advance.

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Locutus of Borg
By Locutus
18th Nov 2012 12:13

In truth, not a great deal

Although it is difficult to know what more I can do for my business.  I went paperless ages ago, but more for reasons of space than anything else.  I've never owned a car, so that's not an issue.  IT equipment seems to be gradually getting more energy efficient.  I send back the used toner cartridges, if that actually makes much of a difference.

For my small practice (just me!) and many other small businesses, I guess environmental issues seem quite remote.

Unlike a lot of people I know, I do actually believe that global warming phenomenon is largely man-made and something that we, to some degree, have the power to control.  But I think the solutions are largely governmental / institutional - for instance replacing coal fired power stations with nuclear (renewables will never generate enough on their own).

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By User deleted
18th Nov 2012 13:18

Remarkably little

I use email for most correspondence but that's for personal preference and cost. Make very few car journeys but that's because I don't like going out. Like 0103953 I send my toner cartridges back but that's because I think a charity might benefit. I would recycle a lot more of my household rubbish (the business creates paper and tea bags, little else) but my council only does the basics so there's recycleable plastic going to landfill needlessly each week. And I give to charity any items that I don't need any more. But as a business, other than turning off the lights more often and putting a jumper on instead of cranking up the heating there's not much I can do. Big businesses have far greater opportunities..

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By DMGbus
18th Nov 2012 17:37

Plenty of little things to look at doing...

Both in an office environment and a home environment where applicable:

# Low CO2 car

# Be a one car household rather than a two car household (or no car household where practicable)

# Reduce car mileage and travel by bus, coach or train as an alternative wherever possible

# eMail rather than post

# eMail or 'phone rather than meeting

# Have a rule that office equipment should be NOT be left on standby overnight and at weekends

# Low energy lighting (LED is the current latest development here better than CFL bulbs)

# Recycling of waste

# Double sided printing can halve paper consumption

# Pullovers and high Tog rating dovet covers can help reduce household energy consumption

# When replacing hardware / equipment always buy low energy consumption equipment where economically viable

# Use the stairs rather than the lift

# Store eMails as .pdf documents rather than printing out every eMail that is received

# If paper is a must because of a particular office's culture, then store a copy of a Tax Return as a .pdf and send a paper copy for signing (then the paper copy fulfils the "must have a paper copy" mindset culture once it comes back signed)

# Rubbishy seemingless meaningless paperwork that might need paper copy signing off can be double-sided printed (iXBRL copy of accounts comes to mind here)

# A Ltd Co set of accounts can be more meaningful to the business owner if it is 6 pages long rather than 10 pages long, and then double-sided too (3 pieces of A4 instead of 10 single sided)

# Are "bound copy" accounts really necessary? ("They are our shop window!" I remember a previous boss once saying many years ago)

# Correspondence in paper form should be double-sided (even HMRC are on the ball on this one!)  NB. this can save postage as well as paper costs.

# Subscribe to publications in .pdf form rather than paper form (I refuse to use the Zinio format it has proved to be over complicated rubbish every time that I've tried it!)

# Scan documents and shred the paper copy (spin off benefit: easier to file and find documents electronically than in paper form)

# Photography is better digital and stored on a computer than the old "must have prints" concept

# Music, movies and TV recordings take up less physical space in computer file format than traditional disc or tape formats

# Rechargeable batteries are more efficient in some (but not all) applications

# Do office blocks really need to have the lights left on overnight? (Maybe it "looks good" in a city night-time skyline, or maybe as a health & safety issue must leave the lights on in case burglars break in to help prevent intruders injuring themselves in the dark - yes I really have heard this one!)

Having practiced nearly all of the above points my experience is that in most, but not all, cases being environmentally friendly by following the above tips can have economic benefits, which in a commercial environment is always going to be more recognised by most management.   Publicity-seeking "we want to be in the spotlight" management would seek to exploit green credentials by press releases and making their letterheads (probably) even more "crowded" with "credentials" so such management need to be "sold" green matters by the vanity / publicity opportunity rather than the economic benefits that accrue.

 

 

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Replying to DJKL:
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By User deleted
18th Nov 2012 20:50

Less applicable in a home office?

[quote=DMGbus]

Both in an office environment and a home environment where applicable:

# Low CO2 car Not sure that I'm going to trade in my existing car which has low mileage and should last a good few years - longer term yes but..

# Be a one car household rather than a two car household (or no car household where practicable) As there's only one of me I've resisted the urge to buy that second car!

# Reduce car mileage and travel by bus, coach or train as an alternative wherever possible For the few shortish journeys that I do actually make it would take a lot longer and be totally impractical.

# eMail rather than post Already do

# eMail or 'phone rather than meeting Yup, email all the way

# Have a rule that office equipment should be NOT be left on standby overnight and at weekends Turn everything off except the fridge and freezer!

# Low energy lighting (LED is the current latest development here better than CFL bulbs) Depends on what your existing light fittings will use...

# Recycling of waste Tell my council!

# Double sided printing can halve paper consumption I rarely print anything out anyway

# Pullovers and high Tog rating dovet covers can help reduce household energy consumption Beter still get a dog - you don't need the heating on at night and only need a low tog duvet as said pooch is like an over-sized hot water bottle (albeit one that feels the need to hog the bed and stick a paw in you if you don't look like you're getting up to make the breakfast)

# When replacing hardware / equipment always buy low energy consumption equipment where economically viable Yes, but depends on the cost and in a small office you don't need much equipment anyway

# Use the stairs rather than the lift Lift? I have a lift? I wish!

# Store eMails as .pdf documents rather than printing out every eMail that is received Oh hell yes, paperless office here

# If paper is a must because of a particular office's culture, then store a copy of a Tax Return as a .pdf and send a paper copy for signing (then the paper copy fulfils the "must have a paper copy" mindset culture once it comes back signed) No paper required and tend to get email approval of accounts etc. instead of sending hard copies for signature.

# Rubbishy seemingless meaningless paperwork that might need paper copy signing off can be double-sided printed (iXBRL copy of accounts comes to mind here) Ditto

# A Ltd Co set of accounts can be more meaningful to the business owner if it is 6 pages long rather than 10 pages long, and then double-sided too (3 pieces of A4 instead of 10 single sided) Yes but some clients are so dim that they'd miss the fact it was double-sided and ask why it was missing pages! Stick with emailed copies 

# Are "bound copy" accounts really necessary? ("They are our shop window!" I remember a previous boss once saying many years ago) Not for most

# Correspondence in paper form should be double-sided (even HMRC are on the ball on this one!)  NB. this can save postage as well as paper costs. Yes, but I'm not convinced it looks that professional for letters?

# Subscribe to publications in .pdf form rather than paper form (I refuse to use the Zinio format it has proved to be over complicated rubbish every time that I've tried it!) Have to admit I like to hold a physical copy - it's like Kindles, they don't replace a nice book!

# Scan documents and shred the paper copy (spin off benefit: easier to file and find documents electronically than in paper form) Definitely

# Photography is better digital and stored on a computer than the old "must have prints" concept Agree

# Music, movies and TV recordings take up less physical space in computer file format than traditional disc or tape formats But then you can't use them (easily) in different locations i.e. on the dvd player in the lounge.

# Rechargeable batteries are more efficient in some (but not all) applications Never got the hang of them, they always seemed to run out at inconvenient moments. Good idea but...

The problem is that if you work from home with a small business and already go paperless, email etc. there aren't that many economically-viable options in the short-term. I'm sitting here in the dark but the lights are blazing in the kitchen and lounge. I could turn them off but think it's a bit cruel to make my dog sit there in the dark waiting for me to remember she needs company on the sofa! And I was supposed to be doing something in the kitchen before I got side-tracked on here again! Oh well, I saved the earth before, maybe I can do it again some time :)

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By PVJ Ltd
07th Mar 2014 16:08

Non-financial reporting

PVJ specialises in helping clients with their CSR.

We help develop the strategy and work out what is most important to the client, their business, their customers and their stakeholders, through the supply chain. If clients supply larger companies, new EU laws are coming into effect to require non-finalcial reports. This is leading towards integrated reporting.

We use a number of frameworks including Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). PVJ are qualified to report to all versions including the latest G4 guidelines.

We are also ISO Lead Auditors, so can work with clients to develop their environmental management systems and lead towards ISO14001 certification.

Please ask your clients to get in touch for an informal chat, or a free consultation. We can also work with you to develop integrated reports.

Thanks

Tony Jenkin Jones
[email protected]

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