Many companies throughout the UK understand that real business benefits can be gained by reducing resource use. Here are just two:

Clean Step Ltd of Swindon in Wiltshire provides dust control mats for shops and offices, with the dirty or damaged mats returned for a revamp. In May 2002, a move to new premises sparked a decision to invest in efficient new technology and improved treatment processes.

The Results:
By cleaning all the water and re-using it for pre-washing and rinsing mats, water consumption was cut by 80%, producing big savings. Water heating efficiency was also increased by 99% through the introduction of new heating technology - the benefits offsetting the cost. By lowering its costs, Clean Step has also improved competitiveness, while enhanced awareness of the potential benefits of new technology has added to the company's reputation for innovation.

Redruth-based Harman Pro Audio introduced a series of no-cost and low cost initiatives to reduce packaging and associated costs. These included the redesign of packaging to eliminate polystyrene, the use of bulk packaging instead of single packs, and the re-use of packaging for deliveries to a regular customer.

The Results:
This initiative delivered cost savings of over £37,000 with a total payback period of just 12 weeks for the packaging redesign initiative. In addition, more space was freed up in the factory for production.

• Trials show that companies can reduce their energy bills by 10% without capital investment. Source: Envirowise
• The UK spends around £50 billion a year on fuel, of which 20%, the Government says, could be saved by investing in energy conservation. Source: Association for the Conservation of Energy
• Many companies pay for water three times; they buy it, pay to clean it up (to meet consent limits) and they pay to discharge it. Water savings can therefore reduce costs in three separate ways. Source: LearnDirect, 2003 http://www.ufi.com/home/default.asp