Isra-Mart srl:Defra: Efficiency could save British business £23bn a year

www.isra-mart.com

Isra-Mart srl news:

Businesses could save up to £23bn a year at little or no extra cost through more efficient use of energy and materials, government research has suggested.

Using raw materials more cost-effectively and reducing waste makes up £18bn of this calculated saving, with better use of energy and water clocking up savings worth £4bn and just under £1bn respectively.

The Defra-commissioned research, which was released late last week, also identifies a further £33bn a year that companies could save with longer-term investments in resource efficiency, taking the total potential savings over the £56bn per year mark.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said that stripping this level of waste out from business operations would also cut UK greenhouse gas emissions by around 13 per cent or 90 million tonnes CO2 equivalent.

"Moving to a green economy offers businesses opportunities to grow into the future," she added. "Becoming more resource efficient contributes to a business' bottom line, increases profitability and their capacity to grow."

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which released a report on the potential offered by imporved waste management initiatives last month, again urged the government to deliver policies that help businesses work more efficiently.

"We are not fulfilling the potential of waste. The right approach would help meet landfill and emission targets, while also being a source of growth by enabling firms to sell on recyclable waste," said Rhian Kelly, the CBI's director for business environment.

"What is needed now is a cross-departmental approach that links the goals of incentivising businesses, simplifying planning and delivering the 2,000 new waste facilities we need within the next decade."