In the past, the environmental agenda has had limited relevance for many businesses and had been seen as detracting from profitability. However, the results from our survey demonstrate that this perspective has changed. Businesses are increasingly aware of the benefits that can be reaped by adopting environmental strategies. They understand that the traditional trade-off between reducing environmental impacts versus profitability is an outmoded perspective.
The publication of our report Resource efficiency – Business benefits from sustainable resource management (March 2009), set out the benefits and opportunities that a resource-efficient approach can bring to UK manufacturers. The research revealed that manufacturers are embedding resource efficiency into business culture, but need support from government and must work in partnership with their stakeholders to realise further benefits.
These messages are very much supported by the findings of this survey. There is evidence of engagement and commitment from manufacturers to reduce their impacts, as part of a broader business efficiency agenda. However, the survey goes further, to show that businesses are finding it difficult to finance investment in strategies which can save money in the long term. The recession has made this issue more pronounced.
You can download a copy of our survey Measuring Performance using the link on the right hand side.