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Environmental protection

Business and the environment

• Sustainable consumption and production
• Envirowise
• Environmental reporting
• Environmental technologies
• Resource productivity
• Commission on Environmental Markets and Economic Performance
• Business Support

Business and the environment

Latest news

• "Building a low carbon economy: unlocking innovation and skills" - Government response to the Commission on Environmental Markets and Economic Performance (CEMEP) (01 May 2008)

Introduction

Businesses have a major role to play in helping protect and enhance the environment, in line with wider goals of sustainable development.

In particular, business has a pivotal role in meeting the Johannesburg goals (World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002) on sustainable consumption and production, and corporate responsibility.

In March 2005 the Government launched the UK Sustainable Development Strategy - Securing the future. It highlights the need for business' approach to corporate responsibility to extend throughout their supply chains, tackling issues at extraction of raw materials through to engagement with consumers about the products and services they buy and eventually discard.

Sound environmental management of processes and products is regarded as a core business issue, that can help promote a company's products and services, and improve its corporate standing.

Government has a key role to play and will work closely with business to encourage more sustainable patterns of production and consumption:

• encouraging wider take up of corporate responsibility practices, including environmental reporting and management systems
• enabling investors to deliver more sustainable consumption and production
• providing information and advice to business on environmental issues
• working directly with business sectors to improve environmental performance.

Further information

• Sustainable consumption and production
• Government Corporate Social Responsibility
• Environmental reporting
• Environmental Management Systems
• Environmental technologies
• Environment awards
• Environmental Industries Unit (DTI)

Practical assistance for companies

• Support to business to improve resource efficiency and so sustain profits - your business can receive advice and support on improving resource efficiency measures, minimising waste production and improving its bottom line through a number of projects funded by BREW.
• The Carbon Trust - helps business and the public sector cut carbon emissions.
• WRAP - the Waste and Resources Action Programme to promote the development of markets for recycled materials.
• Envirowise - practical environmental advice for business.

Links

• NetRegs - More on how current environmental legislation relates to your business
• Business Link - the Government site for practical business advice and help.

Advisory committees

In the UK Sustainable Development Strategy, the Government outlined its plans to convene a Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Business Taskforce. This is a joint DTI-Defra initiative which will access business expertise committed to working with Government to help us make progress on consumption and production challenges together.

The Taskforce will build on past and present SCP related programmes by identifying where it can most add value within its two year lifespan. In particular, it will work closely with existing business networks, and will look to build on the achievements of Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment (ACBE), and the Advisory Committee for Consumer Products and the Environment (ACCPE). It will also complement the work of the Round Table on Sustainable Consumption.

The Government also works closely with the Trade Unions to promote more sustainable workplaces, and provides secretariat support to the Trade Union Sustainable Development Advisory Committee (TUSDAC).

Page last modified: 19 September 2008
Page published: 27 November 2002

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