Environmental issues have commercial implications. Every business has an impact on the environment. How that manifests itself as a business issue will vary from company to company. What is certain is that whether the pressure or opportunities come from customers, employees, neighbours, the bank or pressure groups - a coherent response is needed.

The business implications of environmental concerns have ramifications throughout all levels of a company. From strategy to management systems through to the involvement of all staff, environment has an influence. System. Environmental law is now a major issue and its importance will continue to grow. Increasing political and public awareness of pollution and environmental problems, together with pressure from the European Community, is leading the UK Government to introduce a growing and wider range of environmental legislation and policy guidance. Now every commercial activity is examined for its potential to create environmental problems

The results of the Groundwork Environmental study on SMEs 1998 revealed that:

• Environmental management is now one of the more important challenges SMEs have to face (the survey ranked it higher than business investment, credit control or even exchange rates).
  
  
• Legislation: Awareness of environmental legislation is still often lacking, with a quarter being unable to name any environmental legislation or regulations which directly affect their company.