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Five ways retailers are using Black Friday to champion CSR
Today (23 November) marks Black Friday - but while the majority of companies and consumers conform to this spending spree, a select few a using the occasion to champion resource efficiency, social sustainability and environmental conservation. Here, edie outlines how five companies that are turning that trend on its head.
Scottish Government launches 'cashback' scheme to help SMEs bolster energy efficiency
The Scottish Government has partnered with Zero Waste Scotland to launch a "cashback" scheme which offers interest-free loans to small businesses that install energy efficiency measures.
The Climate Coach: Renewable Energy
I have a dream, of a society where children play safely outside in green, common areas, where there are no cars. People travel to work in electric powered trains, buses and through electric car share. They walk and cycle to school, to the local shop and to meet friends. A dream where renewable energy sources provide all the power we need - for heating, electricity and transport - in businesses as well as in homes.
World Water Day - How we can ensure resilience of our water supplies
Peter Simpson, CEO, Anglian Water, discusses the action we can take together on World Water Day to ensure the resilience of our water supplies
Report: Majority of UK SMEs struggling to embed sustainability
Almost three-quarters of UK SMEs are struggling to embed sustainability practices, citing costs issues and unfavourable government policies as major stumbling blocks, according to a new report.
Water retail market reaches 100,000 milestone
More than 100,000 supply points have switched water retailer in the first 10 months of the market, according to figures released by the market operator - MOSL.
Scottish SMEs offered 'cashback' loan for energy-efficiency projects
Small businesses in Scotland have been encouraged to take advantage of a new "cashback" scheme that could enable them to cut annual energy usage by a quarter and save up to £10,000 in the process.
Introducing the Climate Coaching Blog Series
Climate change is the most pressing and critical challenge humanity has faced in its history. We don't have the time to rely on regulators to pass appropriate climate mitigation and adaption legislation. Climate action from across all industry sectors, whatever the size of organisation is essential, required and indeed increasingly demanded by customers and consumers. To address this, I am writing a sequence of blogs called the Climate Coaching Series, here on edie.net, where I will be exploring climate action and answering the questions of what organisations can do to benefit people, profit and planet.
How to embed the SDGs in your sustainability strategy
Apart from the slightly strange feeling of talking into complete silence, and not seeing any response from your audience, I thoroughly enjoyed talking at the edie Masterclass on How to embed the SDGs in your sustainability strategy, sharing my knowledge and expertise on the topic. Here I offer you a short reflection on the webinar and respond to the questions that I didn't have time to answer during the event.
ESOS across Europe: ensure compliance for multinational companies
The Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) is the UK's response to Article 8 of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), which mandates that all large organisations must, every four years, undertake a number of steps, including calculating total energy use and performing energy audits across their estate.
How to expand your business sustainably: it all starts with your supply chain
The 2016 CEO Study published by Accenture and the United Nations Global Compact boldly claims that a "staggering 97% of CEO's interviewed believe that sustainability is important to the future success of their business". Despite being reminiscent of the 97% of scientists that agree on climate change, clearly, we are at a point in time where the question around business expansion is not can, but rather how, does a business grow sustainably and where should it focus its efforts?
Why the SDGs are a big thing for SMEs
Did you know that the UK has adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? If you do, you are one of few - just one in 10 UK citizens know about the SDGs. Why do so few people know what they are?
36,000 businesses have switched water retailer since market competition opened
More than 36,000 businesses have switched water retailer since the market opened to competition earlier this year, with around 60% of those switches coming from low-water-users.
Catalysing green finance: a priority for the new government
With Brexit negotiations kicking off and the government facing several immediate policy challenges, it would be easy for the new government to be entirely focused on short-term issues. However, it is in the UK's economic interest for the government to take a long-term view as it develops a new policy agenda.
New route map guides London towards £2.8bn circular economy
A new route map was launched on Monday (19 June) outlining how the collective buying power of the private sector could catalyse the circular economy in London, unlocking £2.8bn annually in the process.
London launches support scheme for circular economy transition
A new business support programme which aims to help SMEs in London adopt and scale-up resource-efficient business models has been launched today (25 April).
Keeping a weather eye: 5 key developments for renewables
Reading the popular media or governmental press releases alone might lead us to despair at the prospects for renewables - something that's flavour of the month today can be an environmental pariah the next. So, what is really happening? Should we be battening down the hatches or making hay?
Wales creates £6.5m circular economy fund for SMEs
The Welsh Government has unveiled a £6.5m fund to help SMEs make the transformation towards a circular economy.
Have you heard the news about water retail competition?
With the opening of water retail competition just around the corner, awareness of the new market is beginning to increase among larger businesses. But many smaller firms are still in the dark about what the upcoming changes could mean for them.
Reduce, generate and store: SMEs urged to capitalise on energy transition
UK SMEs can thrive in a low-carbon economy if they follow the mantra of 'reduce, generate and store' as a way to revamp energy costs during an era of "unprecedented disruption", a new whitepaper from financial solutions partner DLL has claimed.
Big ambitions: How SME's can become sustainability leaders
Next up in the series of contributed articles for edie's Sustainability Leadership Month, Andy Wood, chief executive of Suffolk-based brewer and distiller Adnams, outlines how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can incorporate sustainability in their business agenda.
Big ambitions: How SME's can become sustainability leaders
Next up in the series of contributed articles for edie's Sustainability Leadership Month, Andy Wood, chief executive of Suffolk-based brewer and distiller Adnams, outlines how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can incorporate sustainability in their business agenda.
Europe eyes 'big bang' in power savings from industry and SMEs
While standards for toasters, fridges, and TV sets have so far grabbed the most attention, the biggest potential for power savings actually lies in integrating industries and small businesses to the electricity system, a senior EU official has said.
New energy and water retail service offers businesses 'one-stop-shop' for utilities
UK organisations will soon be able to manage their electricity, gas and water use in one place thanks to a pioneering new partnership between non-domestic water supplier Business Stream and energy consultancy Utilitywise.
Scottish SMEs could save £19,000 per year through energy efficiency measures
Scottish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are wasting £19,000 every year by neglecting simple energy efficiency improvements, according to Zero Waste Scotland.
John Elkington: Business case for sustainability must strengthen amidst Brexit and Trump uncertainty
EXCLUSIVE: Major political upheavals caused by Brexit and president-elect Donald Trump have created a "sense of uncertainty" in the climate change battle, which has heightened the need for the private sector to develop a more strengthened business case for sustainability.
London support scheme launched to help SMEs scale up circular business models
As research reveals that almost 90% of London boroughs have fallen below the national average for household recycling, a new business support programme has been launched to enable SMEs in the capital to adopt and scale up circular business models.
Businesses will play 'crucial role' in the UK's transition to low-carbon cities
The creation of low-carbon, sustainable British cities can only be addressed through collaboration between the public sector and innovative green businesses.
European businesses call for EU to cut 'ruinous' tariffs on chinese solar
Businesses across Europe, including more than 60 based in the UK, are calling on the European Union (EU) to remove trade measures on Chinese solar modules and cells that have had "unforeseen consequences" on the European solar value chain.
Barclays supports 'disruptors of tomorrow' with green innovation scale-up scheme
Hydrogen vehicle pioneer Riversimple, London's first subterranean farming concept Growing Underground and tree-planting drone developer BioCarbon Engineering are among 10 British green business start-ups that look set to undergo a period of intensive scale-up after taking part in a new accelerator scheme launched by Barclays Bank.
Small businesses 'discontent' with renewable energy supplier options
Britain's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are keen to make the switch to 100% renewable energy-powered operations, but many are not receiving enough support from energy suppliers in order to do so, a new survey has revealed.
Scotland opens up 'circular regions' funding to drive SME resource revolution
Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change, Environment and Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham has this week announced a targeted funding call to better support the nation's SMEs in embrace the shift to a circular economy.
Building industry calls for EU-wide 2050 energy efficiency vision
A coalition of industry-leading businesses from the building sector including AkzoNobel, Philips Lighting and Siemens have urged the European Commission (EC) to implement continent-wide action to improve the energy efficiency of Europe's building stock.
Business Cubed: one woman's mission to de-risk the global green innovation market
As a growing number of businesses look to tap into the huge potential of low-carbon innovators and sustainability start-ups to drive internal CSR programmes, Matt Mace talks to the creator of the successful RBS Innovation Gateway as she embarks on a brave new venture to bring even more ready-for-market green innovations into the mainstream.
Five fuel efficiency myths steering businesses towards £1bn fleet losses
Misconceptions about how to reduce fuel costs is causing as much as £1bn in unnecessary fleet management costs per year and resulting in needless emissions for English business, according to new research.
Shell launches new digital tool to springboard low-carbon start-ups into green markets
A new digital tool has been launched by Shell's business development platform to create a route to market for innovative, low-carbon small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through a variety of sources totalling £157m in value.
The waste management industry would benefit from Brexit – here’s why…
Paul Killoughery, managing director of London-based food waste collection and recycling company Bio Collectors, gives his view on why regulation and legislation is the main reason his businesses and other SMEs would benefit from a Leave vote in the EU Referendum.
Green policy continuity the biggest challenge for energy professionals
The UK Government has faced a double dose of criticism over the effectiveness of its current green strategies by leading environmental groups, after surveys revealed that energy professionals and businesses view energy policy continuity as the biggest challenge for their sector.
Five circular economy insights from edie Live
The circular economy sessions at edie Live 2016 made up my mind about attending the conference. And the exhibition opened my mind to a handful of things...
Edinburgh launches 'Remakery' to ignite re-use and repair revolution
An Edinburgh social enterprise has set up a unique re-use and repair superstore to encourage second-hand shopping and enable more people to learn key repair skills in the Scottish capital, as a way of driving a circular economy.
Cleantech innovation: the legal necessities of joining forces
In the final installment of edie's cleantech innovation feature mini-series, Hamish Corner - partner at law firm Penningtons Manches - outlines the legal necessities that must be established and protected by green entrepreneurs when entering collaborative partnerships with larger corporations.
Cleantech innovation: the collaboration equation
In the penultimate part of this cleantech innovation feature mini-series, Carbon Limiting Technologies (CLT) directors Beverley Gower-Jones and Mark Bornhoft explain how green innovators should be interacting with big corporations to carve out a route to market and ensure they aren't "designing in the dark".
Cleantech innovation: Strategies for scaling up
In the second part of this cleantech innovation feature mini-series, Hamish Corner - a partner at UK law firm Penningtons Manches LLP - outlines the key challenges and potential solutions for green entrepreneurs and start-ups when it comes to attracting funding to turn proven prototypes into a commercial success.
SMEs urge Government to provide energy efficiency grants
A large proportion of Britain's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) believe that the Government should provide grants towards the installation costs of energy efficiency measures, according to a survey from the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC).
How Jacobs and Dunlop are engineering a green industrial revolution
EXCLUSIVE: With question marks still looming over the Tata Steel crisis, manufacturers large and small are taking steps to ensure that energy-intensive industries aren't left behind in the global movement to a low-carbon future.
RBS hits £1bn milestone for green loans
The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has doubled its financial lending to sustainable energy projects, with more than 400 small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) acting as benefactors of a £1bn lending spree from the bank in 2015.
Two of Britain's largest recycling plants set to close
Lancashire County Council has revealed that a recent surge in national recycling rates along with the severe financial situation facing the local authority has contributed to the closure of two of Britain's biggest recycling plants.
Scotland's SMEs urged to 'seize opportunity' of resource revolution
Scotland's circular economy body Zero Waste Scotland has today (18 March) launched an £18m fund to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) explore and pioneer ways to develop a circular economy.
edie's 2016 Innovation Zone Competition deadline EXTENDED
Owing to popular demand, edie has extended the deadline for the Innovation Competition taking place at edie Live, giving entrepreneurs and SMEs that have developed green technologies, systems or business models an extra week to submit their entries.
George's little red briefcase is lacking big green ideas
George Osborne has just set out the 2016 Budget, confirming a reform of business carbon taxes and agreeing the next round of funding that will be allocated to new renewable energy projects.
WRAP calls on UK SMEs to take 'circular leap of faith'
Liz Goodwin, the soon-to-depart chief executive of the Government's Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), has today (8 March) provided new evidence of how the circular economy is beginning to make a big difference for small businesses across the UK.
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