REDUCING the environmental impact of your business can improve your profitability – and it’s not as difficult as you might think.

Nov 6 2007 by Karen Wilson, The Journal

Did you know that there’s a dedicated website where North-East businesses can find specialist help with cutting the costs of getting rid of waste and recycling, designing greener products and specific support for different industry sectors?

The site, www.wastetoresources.co.uk, was created by One NorthEast with support from Defra’s Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programme.

It’s a free service for businesses in the region, many of which want to cut the costs of waste disposal, save energy, and exchange or trade waste. It’s good for the environment – and for business.

Wastetoresources.co.uk helps them to find out how – tackling confusion over the different providers of environmental support, and who to go to first.

The site also links businesses with the latest news from organisations working to improve environmental efficiency in industry.

This month, sustainability experts Envirowise are reminding North-East employers to involve their staff in helping reduce the significant amount of water which still goes to waste from workplaces every day.

A poll by the group reveals that as many as 66% of employees surveyed in Newcastle alone felt their employer was doing ‘nothing they were aware of’ to address the issue.

Guy Bashford, Envirowise regional manager for the North-East, said: “With water being wasted daily across bathrooms, kitchens and factory floors, it is vital employees are encouraged to be the eyes and ears of any business campaign to reduce water use.

“Almost half of those surveyed in Newcastle said they have seen evidence of water waste around their workplaces, including dripping taps, leaking pipes, hoses left running or dishwashers being run only half-full. Employers should ensure they make information available to staff on how they can help prevent and report incidents of waste.”

To help employers get started, Envirowise is inviting sign-ups to its water-efficiency campaign, The Big Splash, where companies can access free information packs, workshops and interactive tools – as well as a confidential telephone advice line. To register, visit www.envirowise.gov.uk or call 0800 585 794, quoting reference NE001.