Researchers launching in-depth project on ‘green’ sector boom

Researchers at Hull University are launching a two-year prroject that will be one of the most in-depth surveys of the green sector yet carried out.

Funded by the university and led by Prof David Gibbs of the geography department, the team plans to conduct detailed interviews with at least 50 green businesses, policymakers and support organisations.

“We’d like to talk to anyone who is trying to make a difference to the environment through their business,” said researcher Kirstie O’Neill.

“We’re interested in what really motivates people to become green entrepreneurs in the first place, what challenges or opportunities they face and why some regions seem to foster green businesses more successfully than others.”

The launch takes place against a background of intense Government interest in green issues and entrepreneurship. As well as offering a snapshot of the state of green business in Britain in the early 21st century, the project aims to provide insights into how policy makers can best serve green entrepreneurs.

Prof Gibbs said: “At a national level, there is a great deal of discussion about a sustainable economy and the current Government has expressed its desire to be the greenest ever. We want to see what impact that agenda is having at a regional and local level.”

He added: “There have already been several studies of social and community enterprises in the green sector. But we want to concentrate on people who combine their green ideals with running a business.”

Green entrepreneurship takes many forms across different business sectors, ranging from organic food producers and clothing manufacturers to sustainable energy providers and environmentally conscious architects.

The range of issues they target is similarly broad, encompassing concerns about energy consumption, carbon emissions, chemical usage and food miles.

But what they have in common, Ms O’Neill said, is that their environmental commitment is intrinsic to what they do.

She said: “We’re looking for businesses that are doing something more fundamental than turning off light switches and recycling.

“They might be processing their products in a more environmentally beneficial way or trying to influence consumers to make greener choices.

“They might also be concerned about the dominance of big business and be actively trying to make changes to the way their sector operates.”

One of those businesses the team are hoping to look at is Bag It Don’t Bin It, a Sheffield-based company set up four years ago which produces customised re-useable cloth eco-bags. Such bags are becoming a popular alternative to throw-away plastic shop bags.

Founder and managing director Julia Gash had a background in the print industry making fashion textiles and was running a lingerie shop when she felt the time was right to launch a green business.

She said: “I felt the successful future business areas would be green. I could feel a sea change with retail getting harder and harder and I wanted to be part of a winning industry.”

Based on the site of a former steelworks, the company is run on an ethical basis, broadening its appeal to customers who include Jimmy Choo, Harvey Nichols, River Island, Waterstones and many leading galleries and museums.

It has created 15 jobs and has an annual turnover of £750,000, as well as healthy growth figures.

Miss Gash added: “There’s definitely a potential future for green businesses, we are living proof of that.”

The green economy is worth £112bn in the UK and supports 900,000 jobs. Anyone wanting to take part in the research can e-mail [email protected].