Promoting sustainable consumption amongst small businesses Brendan Turvey The Business Environment Partnership Success and Sustainability Initiative

Businesses are consumers too ! What BEP are doing about it Successes – the using less saves you money argument and CSR Success and Sustainability Challenges Outline

Businesses are consumers too ! Businesses are consumers too ! What do businesses consume ? – energy – water – raw materials – consumables (paper !) – furniture – PCs / office equipment equipment – food

But what about small businesses ?

The drivers big companies have the CSR driver / IIP / employee schemes what about smaller companies ? there are 294,000 SMEs in Scotland alone…. how do we regulate these businesses ? how do we motivate them to change ?

Business consumption Policies for Sustainable Consumption: a report to the Sustainable Development Commission (2003) Tim Jackson & Laurie Michaelis –Display consumption and status seeking –Consumer lock in (water dispensers !?) –Consumer goods and business identity –Institutional lock in I dont want to be seen to rock the boat But weve always done it that way The boss will never let us do that…..

The BEP story Established in 1997 Focus on SMEs 14 advisers across East of Scotland Non profit making Principal funders: Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise and Europe Good environmental management makes good business sense…

Our Sponsors

Waste Minimisation / Environmental Management Student Placement Programme ISO14001 Programme Success & Sustainability Business and Biodiversity The BEP pipeline

Economic & Social Benefits 1089 companies: £13.2m pa realised cost savings £44m new sales opportunities; £36m realised 85 companies certified to ISO14001 / GTBS / PAS 415 students placed 55 green jobs created / many others safeguarded Increased awareness of employees

Environmental Benefits Since 2003: 88,288 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill 7,223,562 kWh energy saved 16,312 tonnes of CO 2 saved 48,574m 3 of water / effluent saved

Based in West Lothian Printing company Achieved ISO in 2002 £45,000 savings per annum New inks and processes Based in West Lothian Printing company Achieved ISO in 2002 £45,000 savings per annum New inks and processes Pillans and Waddies printers

Major conference facility ISO Savings of £60,000 on energy since 1999 Saved £4,000 on waste 30% reduction in paper GTBS Gold Major conference facility ISO Savings of £60,000 on energy since 1999 Saved £4,000 on waste 30% reduction in paper GTBS Gold Edinburgh International Conference Centre

Success and Sustainability Established 2000 Currently funded by a Sustainable Action Grant from the Scottish Executive Aim to provide further, flexible advice, on broader sustainability issues Over 100 companies assisted Types of projects: –Biodiversity –Packaging –New product development –General sustainability reviews –Renewables

Case study Pentland Plants Existing BEP client Significant site energy use Current heating costs £300k per annum Looking for more sustainable options

Biomass boiler system Link to woodfuel cluster Contact with local supplier of woodchip Feasibility study £150k cost saving 2000 tonnes of CO 2

Case study Blinkbonny Quarry Student placement Research on use for dust Soil remineralisation Market valued at £250k Cost saving £72k per annum BiodustBiodust A natural product from the Scottish Borders

Case study: Emtelle Biodiversity review Feb 04 £3,000 investment on tree planting at Jedburgh site 400 trees being planted, involving local schools Pathwork at Hawick site

Case study: Canmore Housing New office building Installation of solar hot water system

Case study: Renewable Devices 7 EPP students Planning guidance PAN appendix 2005 SSE contract £9.2 million 8 new jobs

Case study: Hillcrest Housing Sustainability review Cost savings (energy) Sustainable development policy Design guide Communities Scotland Sustainability focus group - Recycled paper - Fair trade tea and coffee - Green energy supply

Challenges How do we encourage small businesses to change consumption ? Communication Incentives ? Provision of wider support to businesses (not just energy and water) Integration of business support service – the one stop shop ?

Brendan Turvey Business Sustainability Adviser Business Environment Partnership 42/3 Hardengreen Business Park Dalkeith, EH22 3NU T: E: W: Brendan Turvey Business Sustainability Adviser Business Environment Partnership 42/3 Hardengreen Business Park Dalkeith, EH22 3NU T: E: W: