Many businesses claim to have ‘green' credentials these days, but running a sustainable business takes more than just telling people you're green. You need to put your money where your mouth is and implement measures to cut carbon, resources and to be more environmentally aware - as well as saving your business some money.

Top tips for making a start on the path to a greener business:

1. Get a carbon audit
Carbon audits are designed to determine the precise environmental impact of your business activities and demonstrate ways in which you can reduce this impact. A trained auditor will visit your premises and assess your business practices, with the intention of identifying ways in which you can save energy.

The Carbon Trust, a government-funded organisation, currently offers free online training and advice - and their recommendations can deliver significant cost savings through better energy efficiency.

2. Turn off equipment
Many businesses (and, indeed, many individuals) leave electrical equipment on or on standby overnight. Turning off equipment and lights when you and your staff leave the office can instantly result in 50% energy savings. This is good for the environment and good for your bottom line.

Carbon audits are designed to determine the precise environmental impact of your business activities and demonstrate ways in which you can reduce this impact

3. Save the printing
Some companies have begun appending a sentence to the bottom of their emails, asking the recipient to only print the message if absolutely necessary. While this can come across as nagging, it does make people think. There are many instances where we print documents unnecessarily and could cut down on paper and ink usage.

4. Buy locally where possible
The feasibility of this tip will obviously depend largely on the nature of your business. But, where possible, it is more environmentally sound to source supplies and products from as close to your premises as possible. The further your stock has to travel, the more fuel it uses.

5. If you must print, use duplex
Buy a printer that lets you print on both sides of the paper and you'll be using half as much paper. If you work from a home office, a printer capable of duplex printing will pay for itself remarkably quickly.

6. Travel only when necessary
Many business owners underestimate the power of technology. Virtual meetings are within reach of anyone with an internet connection, meaning that travel can be kept to a minimum. Services like Skype are free, meaning that you can cut costs while cutting your environmental impact.

7. Encourage telecommuting
If you are an employer and it is feasible to do so, encourage your employees to work from home a few days a week. To begin with, reducing the number of journeys your employees need to make into the office will reduce the amount of petrol they use. As well as this, the sense that you trust your employees enough to let them work from home can significantly increase staff morale and productivity.

Minimising your business's environmental impact is an ongoing process; you can't go green overnight. But, while a proper environmental strategy might take some time to plan out, there are simple things you can do straight away that will make a difference. Not just to your carbon footprint, but also to your bottom line.

For more information please visit www.simplybusiness.co.uk