Guernsey businesses make the "right choice"

Monday 30 September 2019

The Chamber of Commerce has launched a new initiative encouraging Guernsey businesses to make sustainable changes.

The Sustainable Business Initiative launched last week and lots of local companies are already getting involved.

"People are already thinking about being more sustainable," said Co-Lead of the project, Rollo De Sausmarez. "The initial insight I had was people don't really know where to start, so this initiative is about helping people start on that road to see what other people are doing. We don't need to reinvent the wheel. Everything we need to know about doing this is out there, so we need to collate it, package it up and give it to people in a way that will help them and will make real change very quickly."

The Sustainable Business team has already planned a range of events, encouraging businesses to make environmental changes.

"There are so many different ways of how they can do that and all businesses are very different," explained Co-Lead Sasha Kazantseva-Miller. "It could be reducing your energy usage, starting to use more renewable energy, removing use of plastics and materials which are polluting, becoming much more efficient, embracing local initiatives, creating products and services that are helping us become more sustainable.

"Becoming more sustainable is a great opportunity for business. There's a myth that it increases costs, but we want to break that myth. It can reduce the risk if operating, many customers and consumers are becoming much more wary and will only buy from brands and companies that are environmentally friendly. It's a great opportunity for businesses to reinvent themselves and become leaders and pioneers that are driving revenue and engagement with customers."

The initiative is suggesting businesses in Guernsey appoint their own Sustainability Champion, who can engage with the Chamber and come up with environmentally friendly alternatives.

Pictured: The Sustainable Business Initiative launch.

"Our key aims are to influence business, educate business but also to influence policy because we all work and live within government policy," added Mr De Sausmarez. "Government has a huge role in making it easier for businesses and consumers to make the right choice. There's a huge push in the UK and in Guernsey for government to act in that way and there's pressure from sustainability charities, there's pressure from individuals and voters, there's pressure from deputies as well.

"As with all of these things, none of it is moving as fast as anyone would like but it is moving."

Local businesses and individuals can keep up to date with the initiative's plans and events via its Facebook page; Sustainable Business Initiative (Guernsey Chamber of Commerce).

Pictured top: The Chamber of Commerce.