Perth ranks first in Scotland as most sustainable city for running a business

Perth’s ambition to position itself as one of the most sustainable small cities in Europe came one step closer to fruition this month when an independent study placed it first in Scotland for sustainable business locations.

Councillor Grant Laing, Perth and Kinross Council Leader commented, “Perth’s ambition to be recognised as one of the most sustainable cities in Europe plays a significant role in influencing strategy, procurement, and decision making across all areas of the Council, including economic development and business growth.

“By working in partnership with the wider business community, we have driven forward this shared goal.”

The Green Capital Development Grant is an excellent example of public-private initiatives that can impact positively on business growth, profitability, and carbon emissions. Aimed at promoting better Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, the grant has helped 65 businesses and awarded £1.3m in its first three years.

Councillor Laing continued, “By supporting businesses to grow sustainably, Perth and Kinross Council has nurtured a culture of action, and I am in no doubt that it has contributed to us achieving the top Scottish ranking as a sustainable business city.”

• Read more about how the Green Capital Development Grant helped local business, Innis & Gunn, increase production and reduce carbon emissions. 

Perth and Kinross Council’s commitment to sustainability has also been applauded by national bodies and leading industry figures.

John Ferguson, Head of Strategy at Binn Eco Park, one of the most fully integrated resource recovery complexes in the UK, commented, "Binn Group is delighted at this report, and recognise the hard work put in by the Council and others in making Perth and Kinross such a positive location for local businesses and inward investment when it comes to sustainability. The Binn Group has worked hard to contribute to this success and remains a strong supporter and contributor to the use of clean and low carbon technology, and in supporting green growth in Tayside. Well done Perth."

The Institute of Chartered Engineers (ICE) and The British Standards Institution (BSI) have both recognised the innovative approach to the procurement of the main contractor for the £150m Cross Tay Link Road (CTLR) project.

ICE awarded a Carbon Champions award to six engineers, including two members of the Perth and Kinross Council CTLR project team; as well as this, it has been added to the PAS 2080 guidelines as an example of best practice for procurement.

(Note: PAS 2080 specifies the requirements for the management of whole-life carbon in buildings and infrastructure.)

Councillor Laing continued, “Across services and teams, Perth and Kinross Council has worked tirelessly to ensure our climate change commitments remain at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

“Coupled with this, we have made certain that our business community has access to financial support, training and networking opportunities to realise their own ambitions for sustainable growth, and I am proud of the progress we have made.

“However, there remains a long way to go, which is why I was so pleased to launch the new Perth and Kinross Investment Prospectus at UK REiiF. Showcasing £530k of opportunities across the region, the portfolio of eight transformative projects collectively advance Perth and Kinross’s vision leader in sustainability and clean growth.”

Read more on the Perth and Kinross Investment Prospectus >

About the Study

Experts at Business Waste analysed 76 cities across the UK, including 55 cities in England, eight in Scotland, seven in Wales, and six in Northern Ireland.

Perth ranked first in Scotland, and fifth in the UK, with a score of 55.

Commenting on their website, Business Waste explained the need for the study. “There’s a growing concern from consumers, customers, and clients that businesses they use and buy from operate sustainably. Many factors affect how eco-friendly a company is but where you base an organisation also has an impact.”

• The number of BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) certified office buildings in each city
• Renewable energy capacity per 100,000 people
• Public Transport Access (stops per square mile)
• UK Low Emission Zones (LEZ) and Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) schemes
• City recycling rates
• Business survival rates
• EV Charging devices per 100,000 population

Find out more about Business Waste.co.uk and the study here.

About Environmental, Social, and Governance practices

A new meta-study looking at research from the past five years underlines the links between ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and positive outcomes for companies and investors. It shows that businesses that integrate ESG practices experience positive financial performance, highlighting how sustainability can be a key factor to business success. (source: www.governance-intelligence.com )