'Being green helps a company remain competitive'

MANY companies have called for a postponement to implement environmentally-friendly policies, expressing concern over the cost amid an economic downturn.

However, being green helps a company remain competitive in the market in terms of brand value, access talent and bottom line, said Tandberg president for Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan and China) Lars Ronning.

"Previously, being green was undertaken by niche CEOs (chief executive officers). Now being green is going mainstream as it is seen as having good CSR (corporate social responsibility)," he said at the Frost & Sullivan Green Technology Resolution 2009 symposium in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

In a global green survey of 16,823 respondents conducted by Tandberg, it found that 50 per cent of consumers would most likely purchase products and services of a company that has good environmental reputation.

The survey also found that 80 per cent of respondents said they would prefer to work with companies that are environmentally-friendly.

With the availability of technologies such as email, video calls, media network and affordable broadband price, more workers now prefer to work from home and find travelling a hassle.

If such a practice is allowed, Ronning said it would save the company overhead cost in electricity and other running costs.

Last year, Oslo group Tandberg, a manufacturer of video conferencing system, saw savings of some US$45 million (RM151 million) in unnecessary business travel.

Its employees made an average 75,000 business calls a month to communicate with customers.