Case study: How we became an eco-friendly business

WHO: Andrew Hills, office manager at Futures Supplies and Support Services WHAT: Croydon-based suppliers of eco-friendly cleaning products THE ISSUE: Helping the environment and remaining profitable

THE SOLUTION: "Our managing director, Mandie Kemp, set up the company in 1995, since when it has grown to employing 14 staff. In 2003, Mandie decided both the business and the environment would benefit if the firm had an eco-friendly focus.

"We contacted south London business support network Envibe, which helps firms generate measurable environmental improvements to their business. They organised for Envirowise to visit us and carry out a free environmental audit and set up a monitoring spreadsheet. The audit highlighted areas of the business where we could make simple changes to reduce our waste.

"Our next step was to form an environmental policy statement, in which we set objectives for making the firm greener. It included encouraging our staff, customers and suppliers to adopt better environmental practices.

"We also started monitoring our gas, electricity and water usage, and trying to reduce it. We installed energy efficient light bulbs and reviewed our energy suppliers, and we started using recycled paper and encouraging staff not to print unless absolutely necessary. By the end of 2004, we had saved about £5,000."

"All our staff are made aware of our environmental focus in their induction. They receive training on how to be resource efficient in the office - things like turning computers off at night and recycling waste. It's now so ingrained in our company culture that everyone does it automatically and three-quarters of our waste is recycled.

"We've also signed up to the London Mayor's Green Procurement Code, a long-term pledge to do our bit for the environment. One change we've made as a result is to buy two hybrid company cars, which operate on an electric motor for city driving. As well as saving us money on fuel, they are exempt from the London congestion charge.

"We also switched to distributing the eco-friendly products of cleaning product manufacturer Ecover. They have an ecological factory, complete with a grass roof, and their whole business has an eco-friendly footprint.

"Working with the Carbon Neutral Company, we pay £3,000 a year for the carbon we still produce to be offset by planting new trees. It's good PR and there has been a growing demand from our customers for environmentally-friendly products over the last four years. Being green has been great for sales."

LESSONS LEARNED: "It's important to get the message across to staff if you are trying to be a greener business - if you have everyone involved it makes it easier. We believe that business is not just about the bottom line but giving something back to the community. We have been successful in making substantial savings, while promoting sustainability and positioning ourselves in the market place as a company that cares."