Brabners Chaffe Street Solicitors - Property Services

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Brabners become green
4/10/2007

Occupants of commercial premises in Liverpool need to take the lead with environmental issues if business is to make an impact on reduction of carbon emissions. With legislation to crack down on companie`s carbon emissions becoming increasingly likely, the time when merely paying lip service to environmental concerns was enough for a business to become known as ëeco-friendly` has long gone.

In its 2003 Energy White Paper, the Government expressed its target to cut emissions by 60% from 1990 levels by 2050, and some businesses have begun work independently already. Marks & Spencer, for example almost halved its carbon emissions between 2002 and 2006.

As more prime and refurbished secondary commercial space becomes available in the city and companies look to set up, expand or relocate, now is a crucial time for the business community to address its environmental impact.

At Brabners, we believe that this should be seen as an opportunity rather than a hindrance. As activity increases in all commercial sectors, there has never been a better time to re-evaluate even the most basic ways of working. ëEthical` businesses are finding that focusing on changes in their working practices, has not only allowed them to profit environmentally, but also economically because of savings made from those changes.

Brabners Chaffe Street`s Liverpool office has recently undertaken a major move into the newly refurbished Horton House, part of Exchange Flags, and has taken the opportunity to re-assess how we work on a day to day basis. A working group has been established looking at the firm`s day-to-day practices, from simple aspects such as paper and plastic usage, to more in-depth examinations of the IT systems and the wider working environment. Through enrolling as a member of the Ground Works Initiative, we are receiving assistance in assessing our ëcarbon footprint` and to implementing changes to reduce this through improved efficiency and a purge on wastage. This has also made us aware that there appears to be not as much emphasis as there should within the service sector on moving forward with environmental initiatives. Most activity appears to be focused on the industrial sector.

Ultimately there is a responsibility on all businesses to assess the impact their activities have on the environment and focus on how this impact can be lessened. Every effort made by individual businesses will lead to a collective change that will make a difference. The Liverpool business community should be able to combine efforts and market the city to the wider community as a model for ëgreen` business.


For further information contact James Clarke at Brabners Chaffe Street on 0151 600 3387

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