Big Business Responsibilities

We are constantly being told to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions but are the people doing the telling actually leading by example? The biggest polluters in the UK are big business and airlines and these are the two sectors that can afford to offset and cut back emissions. But what are they doing to adhere to new EU laws?

The government has just announced the Low Carbon Transition Plan aimed at reducing our emissions by 18% by 2020 based on 2008 levels. However, the greatest reduction will come from us, in our households. We will have to lower our emissions by 29%, whereas the workplace and transport sector will only be forced to cut back by 13% and 14% respectively.

So what are businesses doing to lower emissions within the workplace and company as a whole? One example of a company trying to 'go green' is Kwik Fit Insurance*. In 2008, they appointed a dedicated environmental manager. Their job was to reduce waste, increase the amount of waste that was recycled and implementing green initiatives in the workplace.

This is no easy task for any large company, but Kwik Fit Insurance has actually managed rather well. It has reduced the amount of waste sent to landfill by 40%; it has installed print management software to try and reduce the amount of paper used in printing and changed its default settings to doubled-sided printing to reduce consumption.

It has also proved that little changes can make a big difference. We are always being told to get out of cars and use a bike, so much so Transport for London's slogan is 'You're better off by bike'. But if you cycle to work you will then need to store your bike securely and shower before sitting down at your desk. Kwik Fit Insurance now offers safe bike storage as well as showers and changing facilities so cycling to work can actually become a practical reality. If you do need to drive however, they also offer car pooling, controlled by postcode.

You may not be looking into a company's green initiatives when you are buying their services, especially when we are trying to cut costs because of the current economic recession. But this can not only bring you piece of mind but also save you money in the future, because if we all cut back now, we won't have to pay the price in the future.

*Kwik Fit Insurance are market leaders in the field of home insurance and car insurance. Take a look at their site for more information and to obtain a quote.