Environmental uncertainty 

Small businesses divided over environmental measures, according to an FPB survey.
 
More than one in five small firms are delaying embracing environmentally friendly measures because of the recession but almost as many are being encouraged to implement them, a survey carried out by the Forum of Private Business (FPB) suggests.
 
In all, 22% of business owners on the FPB’s Environmental Member Panel said that economic conditions had made them less likely to pursue environmentally-friendly solutions. However, 17% said they are even more likely to do so.
 
The majority of respondents (61%) said the recession had no impact on their environmental policies.
 
A quarter of panel members (26%) have as yet implemented no environmental measures, but 22% have formal plans and 56% informal policies in place.
 
“When small businesses are considering implementing environmentally-friendly policies, the will is certainly there but it is often thwarted by the perception of steep costs and a lack of information and support,” said the FPB’s policy representative, Matt Goodman. “It is important to emphasise that measures to reduce carbon emissions can mean savings on the bottom line, but we also need a more joined-up approach from the government including a system of workable incentives that are rewarding rather than punitive.”
 
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