According to its own sustainability website, the UK Government is encouraging businesses to move towards sustainability by improving their operations in four key ways:
- more systematic management of the impacts of their products and processes, of their transport and distribution operations, and of their supply chains;
- building stakeholder confidence by being more open and transparent through reporting against meaningful key performance indicators and targets;
- actively keeping customers informed through product declarations or labelling; and
- by communicating sustainability aims to the workforce and local community.
A key challenge in the first of these areas is to improve the efficiency of the conversion process and to shift from the linear production model to more of a closed loop industrial system. This can be achieved by re-using and recovering (including recycling) materials, and by enhancing energy efficiency and recovering waste heat whenever possible (see emissions to land).
However, re-use of items and recovery of materials can result in significant environmental disbenefits. For example, the processing of materials may require significant amounts of energy, and may add to the environmental burden through the collection and transportation of materials (through the energy it uses). These can outweigh the benefits – the balance very much depending on specific circumstances.
In the second of these areas, stakeholder confidence can be enhanced by the adoption of an externally certified EMS (see environmental management systems). Measures such as eco-labelling of products can also be beneficial. Participation in public reporting schemes, like Business in the Community’s Corporate Responsibility Index are becoming more popular.
EEF’s guide to sustainable development includes some examples of the practical steps which a business can take to improve its sustainability.
Business advantages from sustainability
Improving a company’s sustainability can bring real business benefits. These can be categorised as:
- Increased competitive advantage - In future customers are likely to demand products which use less resources (especially regarding release of carbon compounds) and are easier to re-use, recycle, etc.. Being sustainable now can position your company ahead in the market place.
- Improved access to capital - Sustainable companies are likely to be more attractive to investors. Their reduced liabilities (e.g. less likely to contaminate land, less dependent on diminishing natural resources) will be to their advantage.
- Reduced costs - Reduction in the quantity of resources used and in the amount of waste produced per unit of production will save your company money as well as improve your standing regarding sustainability.
Practical suggestions and case studies can be found in EEF’s own guide to sustainable development.