Consumer Demand, Tax Breaks Push Australian Companies Towards Green

While consumer demand is seen as a core reason for Australian companies to green their products and services, very few companies' environmental credentials have affected their customer base, according to a new report.

Eighty-two percent of companies surveyed for the Grant Thornton International Business Report said that consumer demand for greener goods and services is a core reason, and more important than tax incentives, for greening up their businesses.

Seventy-seven percent said that tax incentives for research and development into low-carbon products and services was a major motivator, 71 percent said rising energy bills are a main factor, 69 percent pointed to clients demanding greener suppliers, and 68 percent cited greater tax incentives for installing renewable energy equipment.

More than 90 percent of companies also said that their environmental practices did not have any impact on winning or losing customers in the previous 12 months.

The survey questioned more than 250 medium to large companies (those with 20-299 employees) last October.

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