UK firms 'all talk' on green issues

UK companies are failing to live up to their promises in implementing green policies, according to a survey by Genesys Conferencing.

Fewer than one third of respondents believe that they are moving 'strongly' or 'very strongly' to adopting green policies in their organisations.

"Visitors to any company's website today are almost certain to find a stated commitment to the environment," said Jerona Noonan, sales director at Genesys Conferencing.

"Yet, as this survey shows, most businesses have not put this into practice in the form of positive environmental initiatives."

When asked how strong the move to adopt green policies is within their organisation, a third of respondents said 'weak' or 'very weak', and only 31 per cent believe it to be 'strong' or 'very strong'.

Nearly half of respondents believe it is the chief executive who drives green initiatives within their business.

"This does not necessarily mean that environmental issues are being fully taken on board at the highest level within the business, but that it is the default position of those respondents who are unaware of who precisely is responsible at senior level for cutting the corporate carbon footprint," said Noonan.

While cost efficiency and regulatory compliance remain the most important drivers for change, cited by 24 per cent and per cent of respondents respectively, growing pressure from customers is recognised as the principal pressure to go green by 19 per cent of those surveyed.

"The signs are that things are about to change as one in five has already appointed a 'green Czar' to drive environmental initiatives within the business, " said Noonan.

Despite the financial imperatives for environmental change, only 37 per cent of businesses believe that costs will reduce as a result of the adoption of green policies, and a quarter still hold to the view that costs will actually increase.

"On the face of it there is a contradiction here, in that companies are under most cost pressure to reduce their carbon footprint, yet have little confidence that such savings can be achieved," said Noonan.

"Yet this is perhaps not so surprising at a time when the creation and implementation of corporate environmental policies are still in their infancy."