Your Business and the Environment

4. Product Management

Environmentally responsible products and production processes offer marketing advantages.

4.1 Design products and processes to reduce the use of resources.

• It is often cheaper to buy less material than to waste and dispose of it.

4.2 Design products for re-use.

• Make products that can be reused, repaired and easily recycled.

4.3 Use recycled and recyclable packaging.

• Businesses with an annual turnover of £2 million or more that handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging per year are legally required to 'recover' and recycle a percentage of their packaging waste. Ask for advice (see 8).

4.4 Use environmentally responsible materials.

• Avoid using scarce natural resources.
• Avoid buying supplies with excessive packaging.
• Avoid use of hazardous substances and comply with legal restrictions.
• Avoid materials that produce toxic by-products when processed.

4.5 Use environmentally responsible production methods and machinery.

• For example, new refrigerators do not use the ozone-damaging CFC coolant and they use less electricity.
• There are tax incentives available if you use energy saving plant and machinery. Visit www.eca.gov.uk for more information.
• If you plan to replace existing equipment, such as lighting, boilers or insulation, with a more energy-efficient version you may be able to obtain an interest-free loan of between £5,000 and £100,000 to fund it. Visit www.thecarbontrust.co.uk for details.

4.6 Use appropriate labelling.

• Inform customers how your products and production processes take account of the environment and how to recycle or dispose of products properly.