The Environment: A Legal, Business and Accountancy Perspective

The environment is currently at or near the top of many agendas. It has certainly become integrated into the formulation of business strategy. If businesses do not wish to move towards being environmentally friendly of their own accord, there is now a plethora of legislation to act as a stimulus, and this forms the first section. Included here are voluntary schemes such as the European eco‐audit and eco‐labelling, as well as the stipulations of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, such as the requirements of the Litter Code. Problems relating to contamination and the Land Register, and to negotiating loans are also suggested. Considers the response of business, as in the so‐called Valdez Principles, and in codes such as those of environmental investors, and the Institute of Management, and the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment. A final section reviews the contribution that accountancy can make to the debate.