Profits before planet

Adelaide Advertiser
Friday 9/1/2009 Page: 11

GOING green has been overtaken by economic concerns at several South Australian businesses. While a growing number of businesses are still inquiring about measuring their carbon footprint, many are deferring audits until they are free of financial constraints. Carbon Planet chairman and chief executive Jim Johnson says while workplaces have stepped up preparations for going green, the global economic downturn is resulting in a delay in action.

"It's a case of people saying, 'We know we have to do this, it's inevitable, but in the face of economic uncertainty most definitely due to the economic climate," Mr Johnson told The Advertiser. "They haven't exactly cut back, it's more a case of in the last three months there have been some deferrals." However, in the wake of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd signing the Kyoto Protocol, Mr Johnson said regardless of cost-cutting, being green was coming back. "Now Australia's participation in climate is formal and inevitable - I call it the boy scout syndrome - people are getting prepared," he said.

However, full commitment from Australian businesses is still some time away with a recent survey by online career network LinkMe.com.au revealing only 15.6% of companies have moved to measure the levels of greenhouse gases they emit. Mr Johnson said this level of awareness - including offsetting entire emissions and purchasing carbon credits - has only been adopted by a minority. "It's still a very low number. I think given the current economic condition ... there will be a delay in those sorts of decisions," he said.

However, one business not willing to put off such a decision is Adelaide-based Scan Conversion Services which has achieved carbon neutral status through implementing green policies and purchasing registered carbon offsets. SCS managing director Richard Bates says being green is not only a moral or economic concern, but steps like cutting paper use can also increase productivity in the workplace. "There is a strong, proven link between staff productivity and job satisfaction by reducing boring, repetitive chores like filing, photocopying, mailing and hunting for paper documents." Mr Bates said.