SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES WILL SAVE MORE THAN COSTS

When greenhouse gas reduction in Australia and globally is being hotly debated, it is all the more reason why Geelong businesses should look more closely at their resources use and the waste products generated from their operations.

Again, when businesses are looking at ways to reduce their costs due to the worsening global financial crisis, it makes a lot of economic sense to review how they operate and to identify and assess cost savings in the resources and waste areas.

One way of doing both of these is to follow the lead of hundreds of other businesses in the Geelong region which are reducing their waste and environmental impact through their involvement with the Waste Wise Geelong Network which openly supports lower emissions and the sustainability of recycling and reprocessing services.

The network was established in late-2005 and is the result of a business-partnership program between Sustainability Victoria, Barwon Regional Waste Management Group and the City Council to set up Waste Wise Geelong. It has brought local businesses together in the network to focus on how to be waste-wise as well as acting as a catalyst to share information, knowledge and skills with other environmentally and economically committed businesses in the region and is strongly supported by the Geelong Chamber.

The program is voluntary, free and allows businesses to set their own pace and objectives with waste and resources use. Its overall aim is to create a viable environmental movement in the region that will lead to more sustainable, low emissions and “low waste” businesses.

Another tangible benefit, according to the Net Balance Foundation, is the opportunity to inform your clients that your business is taking positive steps to lessen the impact of climate change. The survey done in 2008 by Net Balance showed that Australians have a strong commitment to averting climate change and that consumers will support businesses that can demonstrate they are embracing honest business practices to help bring this about.

Waste Wise Geelong Network has a range of support materials and participating businesses are given assistance in conducting audits and preparing action plans together with in-house training and team development to help them change how they deal with waste and resources reduction plans which are designed to lower emissions, cut waste, save costs and improve efficiency.

Typically, once businesses are told about the program, they become interested and want to participate. Apart from helping businesses to control their emissions and waste more efficiently and reducing their costs, the Waste Wise program promotes staff achievement and this has been shown to strengthen relationships.

But the real value for businesses involved in the Network is the opportunity to learn about what other businesses are doing to resolve their resources use and waste issues and to share their own success stories.

A valuable extension of this program is the Committee for Geelong’s Leaders Group sustainability project which is also supported by the Chamber. It will provide small and medium sized businesses with valuable information they will need to assess and adjust their operations in a future when energy, water and material costs will be higher.

All businesses are encouraged to become more resource and waste efficient and play their part in minimising the impact of climate change while bringing about cost savings to their business operations.