Adventures In Micro-Business: How can I make my business more eco-friendly?

How can I find out more about what environmental regulations might apply to my business?

Free environmental guidance for small to medium-sized businesses is provided by NetRegs. Their website (http://www.netregs.gov.uk) provides advice about business sector or environmental topics as well as links to other organisations that can help you. You can also choose to receive "e-alert" updates relevant to your business as well as more general updates. For an online assessment of your business, visit the Business Link website (http://www.businesslink.gov.uk) and work through their interactive environmental compliance tool – it only takes 10-20 minutes to complete, depending upon the complexity of your business.

My small business has grown to the point at which I am thinking about a company car. How can I decide what car would be most cost-effective?

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The cost-effective nature of a company car depends upon a variety of factors including running costs and taxation. The resale value of the car will also need to be considered if your business buys the car for your use with a view to replacement at a later date. However, the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) provides some very helpful data at their car fuel data website (http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk) which is a good starting point when considering a vehicle. HM Revenue and Customs also offer a "Company car and car fuel calculator" at their website (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk) which allows you to determine the "benefit in kind" and hence likely tax you will have to pay for a particular car. Start with those websites and then discuss your selections with your accountant. It would also be wise to speak with your accountant about the best vehicle financing options for your business, such as outright purchase versus leasing.

A customer recently asked how green my supply chain was. How can I find out more and what can I do about it?

Despite how well you manage environmental impact within your own business, customers increasingly want to know about your chain of suppliers. The Business Link website (http://www.businesslink.gov.uk) has a good guide entitled, How To Make Your Supply Chain Greener, that reviews this topic and is a good source of practical steps that you can undertake. Often this is all about identifying materials from sustainable sources that require as little transport as possible. The easiest step that a business can take is to always buy from local producers where possible.

I would like to do what I can to make my small business "greener". Where can I find practical advice and help?

The Carbon Trust not only provides help and advice but also makes loans to businesses wanting to upgrade to more energy-efficient equipment. These loans are interest-free, unsecured and repayable over a period of up to four years. The good news is that the Carbon Trust has just increased the maximum loan available from £100,000 to £200,000 – something that could be of help to businesses during the current "Credit Crunch". You can download a "starter pack" from their website (http://www.carbontrust.co.uk) which will help you to stop energy waste and lower your carbon emissions. The Carbon Trust can also provide a consultant to visit your premises (often at no cost) in order to tailor energy-saving proposals specifically for your business.

Send your questions to Russell Smith at independent@businessboffins.com. Selected questions will be answered each month. Answers are for the general guidance of owner-managers only; always seek professional advice. Professor Smith is the founder of Oxford-based Business Boffins Ltd which, in collaboration with Oxford Brookes University Business School, delivers support programmes to small businesses nationwide. Independent and Independent on Sunday readers can enrol on the university-accredited programme at a discounted rate; see www.businessboffins.com/independent.