Half of U.K. employers have no green policy: Study

LONDON—More than half of U.K. employers do not have an environmental policy in place, and those in London are the worst offenders, according to a study by labor union the Trades Union Congress.

A survey of 1441 people conducted by the London-based TUC found that 44.8% of respondents work for an employer with an environmental policy, and that London employers were rated the least likely to have a green policy with only 42.3% of London-based respondents saying their employers did.

However, 72.6% said that their employers encouraged them to recycle, and 72% said that the environmental action they are most likely to take is switching off computers and machinery before they go home.

"This TUC research highlights the importance of changing employer attitudes and taking 'greening' the workplace seriously. Small steps, like recycling paper or turning off lights, can make an enormous difference when taken by everyone," said Frances O'Grady, TUC deputy general secretary.

"It also underlines the need for trade union green reps in the workplace. Where these union reps exist already, they are achieving energy savings and huge cost benefits for their employers. Unions and employers need to do much more to help U.K. businesses start to clean up their act and begin to make a difference," said Ms. O'Grady in a statement.