Cost savings and improved resource efficiency are some of the benefits for businesses that participated in Sustainable Future for Small Businesses in Western Sydney. The initiative helped businesses adopt environmentally sustainable practices.
Auburn Council recruited 20 small to medium sized enterprises in the Auburn central business district to participate in the program.
Businesses were educated on ways to reduce detrimental impacts on the environment through water conservation, energy efficiency, waste management and resource consumption, in the 10 month program which began in March 2007.
“It makes economic sense to implement strategies that conserve finite resources and generate savings in the costs of running a business,” General Manager John Burgess said.
“Using environmentally sound practices can also translate into savings on water, energy bills and waste going to landfill.
“When business owners see how simple it is to make small changes to their operations for a much greater benefit, they will realise that being environmentally sustainable is also good business management.”
Similar projects have resulted in significant cost savings and reduced resource consumption – on average a 20 per cent water saving and up to 10 per cent energy savings.
Businesses participating in the program underwent an environmental audit to decrease consumption and costs by recognising inefficient processes.
They were guided and assisted to apply environmentally sustainable practices, received business management training and participated in workshops.
All workshop and audit materials were translated for non English-speaking participants.
The long term goal of the program was to encourage businesses to embrace environmentally sound practices as part of everyday business.
Council delivered the program in partnership with Village Green Environmental Solutions, an environmental management company that specialises in working with small businesses to identify ways to reduce their operating costs without adversely affecting their business operations.
