Consumer pressure

Fighting climate change starts with consumers

In all the efforts to combat climate change, whatever the government chooses to do it is ultimately down to the small companies and individual homeowners to make the changes to their properties and lifestyles that will effect the greatest change.

The government, of course, can help people move in the right direction, offering incentives and grants that can help people insulate their homes better or reward those who produce electricity on their properties, but when it comes to industry, the change has to be cost effective and it has to be one made willingly.

That is why it is so important for consumers to choose not just with their wallets but also with their consciences and move towards companies who operate in particularly fashions that are particularly environmentally friendly. Certain high profile banking groups have already reaped the dividends of proving that they operate on ethically sound footing, and if there is a consumer move towards companies that do the same when it comes to the environment, we may be able to bring about a change on the scale that is required if we are to have a significant impact on climate change.

So what are the steps that we should be expecting from companies? Unfortunately, more often than not the most significant changes are internal, things that happen in the office like double-sided printing that no customer would really know. What we should be looking for is a commitment, and a commitment is something that most companies will be keen to demonstrate.

All sorts of companies in recent years have produced Environmental Policies, and one example of a company that is putting such a policy into action is car insurance providers, Kwik Fit Insurance (find out more about their car insurance and home insurance by visiting kwik-fitinsurance.com). The changes that they have made are not obvious, things like making sure that they have good recycling facilities and are encouraging staff to use a car-share scheme are not things that can be judged, but the evidence can be found in the money that they have saved through reduced fuel use, and by the work that they are doing in the community.

If we are serious about combating climate change, consumer pressure has to be applied to companies. Companies should have clearly defined Environmental Policies outlined on their websites for all to see, and offer proof that they are following their own guidelines. Even if you are not particularly ‘eco-friendly’ a company that is working to reduce the amount of fuel it uses and recycle as much as possible is one that is saving itself money and so should be able to offer you better deals, if that’s not a good enough reason to shift your custom to environmentally friendly then what is?