More firms taking action to reduce environmental impact - report

Around two thirds of West Midlands firms are taking measures to reduce their environmental impact, according to new data from the Chambers of Commerce.

And 68 per cent of businesses surveyed plan to introduce further measures in the future.

The Business Insights Report on Net Zero and Environmental Sustainability collates research from the Greater Birmingham and Coventry & Warwickshire Chambers of Commerce, as well as West Midlands data from the British Chambers of Commerce throughout 2021.

The report covers how businesses are managing net zero and environmental sustainability, as well as the drivers for change, the measures they 're taking, their future intentions and barriers to taking more action.

From the 358 business responses collected, 65 per cent of businesses have taken measures to reduce their environmental impact while 68 per cent plan to introduce further measures.

For those firms who have not started reducing their environmental impact, knowledge, skills and information are perceived as a barrier.

Firms that have taken measures said finance and cost provided barriers.

These barriers increase with the length of time a business has been implementing environmental improvements.

Will Hargreaves, environmental policy advisor at the Chambers, said: “Given the stark issues businesses are facing, it is encouraging to see that many businesses have already taken measures to reduce their environmental impact and even more plan to do so.

“The Chamber aims to continue to support businesses along their environmental journey through campaigns such as the Sustainable Business Series.

“The cost of decarbonising continues to be a key barrier for businesses wanting to do more to reduce their carbon emissions.

“As such, we are continuing to work with the British Chambers to shape the national policy for the network next year.

“This report helps policy-makers and stakeholders to understand how businesses within the region are responding to net zero, and the challenges they face, which is key to shaping a more progressive environmental policy framework. ”

The report also includes case studies from across the region, highlighting the work of sponsors from the Chambers ' first Sustainable Business Series - Arup, Morgan Sindall University of Birmingham and Aston University.

Read the report in full now.

Find out more on the Sustainable Business Series here.