Firms urged to use resources efficiently
Fri, 06 Nov 2009
Efficient resource usage could save up to 254 million tonnes of carbon emissions over the next ten years, a new report has indicated.
The Waste & Resources Action Programme (Wrap) claims that by making better use of natural resources, businesses and consumers could contribute as much as ten per cent of the target reduction in UK domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
Caroline Laitner, a spokesperson for Waste Watch, said that as a nation, we throw too much away and the best way to prevent this is to cut out the waste at source.
She noted that manufacturers and producers' decisions are driven by consumer pressures, but said they could still contribute to greater carbon efficiency.
Ms Laitner said that as consumers shout and scream that they want greener products, firms will do more to improve their environmental performance.
And simply by taking more care over issues such as wrapping and boxing – for example ensuring items are protected but not over-packaged – resources can be saved, she noted.
"It's really important that we educate people around these issues so that they can make informed choices," Ms Laitner said.
Earlier this week, leading confectioner Cadbury announced it was replacing tins with sustainably-sourced cardboard packaging, achieving a 45 per cent weight reduction and saving more than 200 tonnes of steel.
How Microsoft can help
Many companies have been working to reduce their carbon emissions over recent years. Ignoring the environmental benefits, being green makes excellent business sense in terms of reducing costs and meeting customer expectations. However, until now the drive has been purely optional. Learn More
Find a Microsoft solution partner
More Green IT News
View all articles
|
|
|
|
