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Doing business in the UK: Sustainability

20 February 2012
by Ina Dimireva -- last modified 15 January 2018

UK legislation requires businesses to comply with minimum social and environmental rules. This guide provides general information on environmental rules and sustainability.


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Legal requirements

A sustainable business works towards minimising environmental and social impacts while ensuring financial stability. Operating in this manner is termed Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Sector-specific guidance on the legal obligations of a business in these areas e.g. environmental and health and safety legislation, can be found on the Business Link website.

Business Link - making your business more sustainable

The Government Departments with lead responsibility on promoting sustainable business in the UK are the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC).

DEFRA

DECC

The law requires businesses to comply with minimum social and environmental rules.

Administrative procedures

The procedures to follow in order to make your business more sustainable and to comply legal obligations, can be obtained from the Business Link website.

Programmes

Envirowise is a government-funded best practice programme to improve environmental performance and reduce costs.

Envirowise

The Carbon Trust is a not-for-profit company which provides specialist support to help business and the public sector cut carbon emissions, save energy and commercialise low carbon technologies.

The Carbon Trust

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) works in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to help businesses and individuals reap the benefits of reducing waste, develop sustainable products and use resources in an efficient way.

Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP)

Doing business in the UK: Environmental rules

Doing business in the UK: Staff welfare

Source: European Commission