Welsh firms best at staying green

Welsh firms are not so efficient at conserving water Car wash makes recycling savings

Businesses in Wales are beating their English counterparts at continuing to invest in 'green' measures during the credit crunch, a survey has found.

An Environment Agency poll showed that more than 60% of Welsh businesses have an environmental policy in place.

This compares to 54% in Yorkshire and Humberside, the best performing English region, and 25% in eastern England.

However, Welsh firms fared less well in water efficiency, with just 27% already operating a policy.

Overall, the poll of 1,000 UK decision makers painted a mixed picture of how Welsh businesses are approaching green issues during the economic downturn, and showed there is plenty of room for improvement.

Almost 80% said they have some sort of energy efficiency activity planned, while 55% said they expected that businesses would cut back on future investment in sustainability measures as a result of economic necessity.

It is vital that businesses remain committed to best practice through this difficult economic period Ian Barker, Environment Agency

Some 53% said they saw saving water as being as important as saving energy, but 73% admitted that they did not currently have such a policy in place.

More than a third of companies polled in Wales do not have any form of environmental or sustainability policy in place.

The Environment Agency's survey, carried out to launch its 2009 Water Efficiency Awards, aims to highlight that sustainability and profit should go hand in hand for businesses.

Envirowise, the government-funded programme to help businesses with the sustainable use of resources, has estimated that UK companies could save £9 million a day through simple water efficiency measures.

Businesses, it has said, could save more than £900 per year in water and wastewater treatment costs by fixing a constant 5mm leak from a single tap, and over £3,800 per year by installing infrared flush sensors in urinals.

'Particular concern'

The research also revealed that attitudes to sustainability vary by industry.

The public sector was found to be the best at implementing environmental initiatives with half of organisations in this area possessing an environmental policy.

The survey showed that the hotel and restaurant trade had scope for improvement, with 40% having no sustainability measures in place at all.

The Environment Agency said this was of particular concern as prior research had found businesses in the retail, hospitality and service sectors are often wasting up to half the water they use.

Ian Barker, head of water resources at the agency, said: "It is vital that businesses remain committed to best practice through this difficult economic period.

"Whilst we appreciate the strains that company finances are under, the majority of efficiency measures actually reduce costs by reducing water and energy use.

"Not only is green business good business, but also we all have our part to play to help save water."