Easy access to environmental guidance for SMEs
Guidance on environmental regulations is available to SMEs from NetRegs,, a partnership between the Environment Agency (England and Wales), Environment & Heritage Service (Northern Ireland) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
NetRegs' website provides practical best practice guidance to help businesses improve their environmental performance. Guidance is provided for over 100 business sectors as well as on general environmental topics. The NetRegs self-assessment tool is a new interactive compliance tool allowing SMEs to assess their compliance with environmental law. Users answer a series of online questions about business processes, and receive a free report explaining the environmental regulations they need to comply with.
Businesses can also register to receive free email alerts from NetRegs; and NetRegs also provides a free online Waste Directory. This enables businesses to find their nearest licensed waste recycling or disposal facility. This interactive directory also enables users to search by particular waste types.
One company to benefit from a detailed review of its product range, focusing on environmental impact and waste minimisation is Fortress Interlocks. Trialing a cleaner design approach on its product lines - prompted in part by the arrival of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive – resulted ultimately in the company unlocking the commercial benefits of a greener workspace, achieving an overall operational cost reduction in excess of £1.25 million and making all products RoHS compliant.
The review process allowed the product designers to assess opportunities to innovate and strengthen competitive edge by maximising efficient use of resources. By replacing its original KeyGard product with a more innovative system the company reduced the number of core components and the weight of the product.The new product is also 100% recyclable, and the changes delivered faster assembly and shorter lead times, as well as improving the product lifetime.
Says engineering manager Tim Stubbs: ‘It is vital that we stay well informed about new environmental legislation which will affect our business. NetRegs allows us to do this without difficulty. We can keep up to date with new legislation and access straightforward guidance on practical measures to reduce environmental impacts. We have certainly seen the benefits of environmental compliance.’
NetRegs
