funding news
05/02/2010 - “Resource Efficiency Makes Good Business Sense”, Minister Urges
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has given his backing to a new report that argues improving resource efficiency and cutting waste will help businesses achieve long-term success.
Beyond Carbon is a new publication from the Aldersgate Group, a coalition of leading businesses, NGOs, MPs and environmental organisations.
It recommends that businesses can benefit from focusing on not just a “low carbon economy, but low resource consumption in that economy”, with issues such as reducing water consumption and waste given as much priority as cutting carbon emissions.
Speaking at the launch of the report, Mr Benn said:
“Resource efficiency already makes good business sense – reducing waste, water and energy use cuts costs in the short-term.
“But those businesses that also adopt a longer term approach to improving their resource efficiency will ensure their sustainability and future success in a world where our natural resources are becoming scarcer and more expensive.”
The minister revealed that the low carbon and environmental sectors were already worth more than £110 billion to the UK economy, providing nearly 900,000 jobs.
But he also claimed that businesses were responsible for 90% of the UK’s waste, and called on them to do more to improve resource efficiency.
He said:
“When we have reached a point where what we now call waste is called a resource, we will have achieved an economy that uses its resources wisely.”
To read the full Beyond Carbon report, visit the Aldersgate Group website (opens a new window)
Source: DEFRA, 02/02/2010
