Top Ten British Green Companies

With more and more companies desperate to hop on the bandwagon and start showing off their energy efficiency and green credentials, it’s only fair that we take a look at some of the bigwigs that have done an incredible job of doing just that, this year. These ten companies have been awarded some of the top accolades, and have come out on top as the ten greenest companies in the UK over recent years.

1. Kingfisher, the owners of the B&Q chain, has aspired to ambitious targets of zero waste at their stores. They also source 70% of their timber from renewable sources, working alongside the WWF and the Tropical Forest Trust to ensure they show consideration for the environment at every turn.
2. BT aims to use electricity from renewable sources and has also reduced its use of electricity within its wholesale estate.
3. Biffa, the waste collection and management company, has a superb carbon management plan in place that involves sourcing methane produced by landfills and sewage plants and using it for the generation of electricity. They also hope to use biofuels for the operation of their transport vehicles.
4. BP often come under scrutiny, but that doesn’t take away from their efforts to reducing greenhouse gas emissions substantially while also providing low-carbon power generation alternatives and using biofuels for transport.
5. Unilever, owners of hundreds of household brands including Ben & Jerry’s, Dove, PG Tips and Hellmann’s, is a big advocate of sustainability, with a zero industrial waste policy firmly tucked under their belts.
6. Severn Trent aims to minimise carbon emissions within their operations and is increasing their use of renewable resources.
7. Sainsbury’s has a whole manner of policies in operation, including increasing its organic products as well as encouraging responsible fishing practices.
8. Sky encourages the use of environmentally friendly materials and is committed to being carbon neutral. It purchases renewable energy in England and Wales, too.
9. BHP Billiton, the Australian mining group that have headquarters in London, requires full lifecycle assessments for its mineral products, which evaluates the environmental burden of them.
10. M&S uses sustainable products wherever possible and is a huge supporter of ethical trading. They use FSC certified timber for furniture, organic foods in their supermarkets and sustainable agricultural sourcing, too. They also have wind turbines to supply energy to three stores. Ask yourself ‘where does your energy come from’ and look into possible, greener alternatives.

While small businesses may not have the same credentials as these British giants, it does help us to aspire to bigger and greater things. Improving our energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions should be part of a strategy that can be incorporated into daily life and, with rising costs of energy and climate change at the forefront of global issues, now is the time to take inspiration from these examples and act.
Written on behalf of British Gas. British Gas commercial energy provides some of the most competitive quotes on the market. If you would like to compare tariffs and read more about greener energy solutions, head online to the British Gas website.
by Roxanne