Green Living: Resolution lost

By Giles Broadbent on February 3, 2010 3:31 PM |

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By Andrew Williams

I wonder how many Wharf readers are breathing a sigh of relief this week. Many of you will have decided that January was going to be the start of a new chapter in your personal wellbeing, with regular trips to the gym, a macrobiotic vegan diet and lashings of iced ginger tea.

Sadly, these things rarely last, and you may now have decided that February is the time to get back off the wagon.

I enjoy everything in moderation. But it's good to start the year with a clear head and many of us will also be thinking about how to make this a better year for business. I also hope that we'll be focusing on how our business success can be sustainable, in every sense of the word.

One resource which is going from strength to strength is East London Business Place. ELBP are based here in the Wharf and work to match local small businesses to buyer organisations, with the aim of encouraging a flourishing economy in east London.

Several of the small businesses signed up to the ELBP have strong sustainable credentials. As well as Seventeen, these include Paperback, a paper merchant based in Bow which specialises in recycled stock, and Novaplex, which helps businesses cut down on their printing costs.

As we slowly emerge from the recession the long term future remains shrouded in mystery. One message I hope all businesses hear loud and clear is that a focus on sustainability will help you to thrive.

This includes looking at your environmental impact, but also the effect you have on the community where you are based. Being a good neighbour could ensure the best start to the year for everyone.

- Do you or your company have an environmentally friendly product or service you'd like featured in this column? Let us know by contacting Seventeen, a sustainable alternative for your event management needs, at andrew@seventeenevents.co.uk.