Draft Business Waste Strategy PDF - london.gov.uk - Greater ...

122 Mayor of London
Making waste work in London The Mayor’s Draft Business Waste Management Strategy
approach to environmental improvement and use a set indicators to
measure progress. To keep the Green Mark, businesses have to
demonstrate, annually, that they have sustained their level of
environmental good practice.
5.49 Such programmes are an important way in which small businesses
can continue to compete in London’s economy. They are able to use
the phased approach to demonstrate their environmental good practice
to potential customers and, if necessary, their progress towards
full certification.
Case study 61 - Small business benefits from Environmental
Management System
In January 2004, Chessington Garden Centre started to develop
an environmental management system using a programme based
on BS 8555. At the beginning of the programme the centre recycled
33 per cent of its waste stream. As a result of developing an
environmental management system their recycling rate had risen to
81 per cent by December 2005. A key element of the BS 8555 approach
has been the way it encourages environmental performance improvement
at an early stage in the implementation process and the introduction of
performance measures at an early stage in the programme.
Source: Business Eco Network
Environmental Reporting
5.50 Environmental and corporate social responsibility reporting is increasingly
a public expectation of major companies. Research undertaken by the
Environment Agency found that 41 per cent of the first 100 FTSE All-
Share companies reported on their environmental performance in 2006 267 .
5.51 European legislation 268 requires large businesses (1,200 British companies)
to provide a Business Review, which includes environmental matters.
Defra has produced a set of Environmental Reporting Guidelines 269
to help businesses report on their environmental impacts in a consistent
way that meets the needs of regulators, their shareholders and other
stakeholders. Whilst aimed at businesses, the guidance is relevant to
public sector organisations.
5.52 The government’s sustainable development strategy 270 required all central
government departments and their executive agencies to produce action
plans to ensure the delivery of their strategy. The Sustainable
Development Commission acts as the independent ‘watchdog’ and reports,
annually, on government progress.