Entrepreneurs in the UK are failing to implement initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint despite evidence that it can bring business advantages, according to a survey by Deloitte.
The Entrepreneurship UK:2008 report found that despite more than a quarter of entrepreneurial companies believing environmental issues would lead to opportunities to develop new products and services, only 29% are currently undertaking any carbon-reduction initiative.
Nearly two-fifths (38%) of companies said they were still years away from doing so while a further 33% said they intended to tackle the issue in the next one or two years.
The most common types of project include waste reduction, recycling and energy conservation, with more complex initiatives such as water conservation and imposing green requirements on suppliers less popular.
"Many entrepreneurs still see environmental initiatives as representing a cost to the business rather than an opportunity," said Richard Crane, entrepreneurial business partner at Deloitte.
Crane identified two reasons why entrepreneurs should put green issues higher up their agendas than currently appears to be the case.
Environmental factors were increasingly influencing the buying decisions of both businesses and consumers, he said, while this also provided an opportunity for entrepreneurial companies to launch new products and services.
"The innovative nature of entrepreneurs combined with their agility to respond to market opportunities quicker than larger corporates should place them in an enviable position to capitalise on environmental challenges," he said.
Meanwhile, separate research from utility company E.ON claims that over a third of workers at small companies have significantly altered their behaviour to address the issue of climate change and nine in 10 have done so to at least a small extent.
"Our research shows that it's a feeling of needing to ask permission to make positive changes which prevents workers from taking the necessary steps," said Jim MacDonald, commercial director.
