My boss isn't green enough, say Londoners

August 24, 2007; 12:59 AM

London – One in five businesses are not doing enough to protect the environment, according to a survey by Zipcar. Research into the attitudes of London businesses towards the environment revealed that these companies are confused about how to make an impact, concerned but not doing anything about it or completely unconcerned about the environment.

The survey indicated that almost two thirds of firms believe that recycling paper, card and plastic is making enough of an impact to the environment, but they are falling short of their obligations according to 84% of workers, who do not believe they are doing as much as they can to help. Two thirds of those surveyed believe that their employers should be spending more money on initiatives to help the environment. 

Only one third of companies in London are investing in large scale environmental initiatives, such as buying energy-saving office equipment or implementing car clubs to decrease carbon emissions.

The survey also indicates a divide between male and female employees, with twice as many males believing their companies are confused about how to make an impact on the environment and three quarters of women using recycling to reduce their carbon emissions at work, compared to just over half of men.

Paul McLoughlin, general manager of Zipcar says: “We understand that the main concern for businesses is money and not necessarily reducing their impact on the environment, but there are ways that companies can reduce their carbon emissions, whilst also cutting costs. These include making the office more efficient by turning off computers at night, but also reviewing transport options and assessing whether converting to a car club instead of using fleet cars and taxis could not only save them money but also have a significant impact on the environment.”

Julia Hailes, author of the New Green Consumer Guide says, “Most businesses are simply not doing enough, they should be setting an example to employees by implementing green initiatives. In fact, green issues could become critical to business success in the future, affecting brand image and becoming a factor for recruiting top class workers.”

At full scale each Zipcar takes 20 privately owned cars off the road and more than 40%  of members sold their vehicle or delayed a purchasing decision when they joined the service. Additionally, members report driving less and using public transport more. Overall, it is estimated that Zipcar saved more than 8.5 million gallons of petrol, or 17 million gallons of crude oil from being consumed in 2005 alone.

London consumers and businesses can join Zipcar at www.zipcar.com/london
and gain access to more than 150 vehicles throughout the city. Each reservation includes the congestion charge, MOT, petrol and fully comprehensive insurance.  Zipcar for Business (Z2B) rates start at £4.50 an hour during the day or £40 for a 7am to 7pm period. Consumer rates start at £4.21 an hour and £38.25 per day.