Interview with Gareth Kane, author of The Three Secrets of Green Business

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an interview with Gareth Kane, an environmental consultant, and author of The Three Secrets of Green Business , a practical guide to those who want to introduce sustainability into their business or organization quickly and effectively. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent interviewer. Findings – There is a common confusion over the business case for going green – is it to improve the image of the company or to cut costs? Cutting edge companies understand that the business winning benefits of going green outweigh the cost savings many times over. As a result they are prepared to invest in sustainability regardless of the direct economic return on investment. Paradoxically, they find that their programmes are giving a return on investment in practice. Practical implications – The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations. Social implications – The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that can have a broader social impact. Originality/value – Business is coming under increasing pressure from government, customers and campaigning groups to improve its environmental performance. Soaring utility and compliance costs are hitting companies where it hurts – on their bottom line. But there is another way of looking at the green agenda – as an opportunity rather than a threat. The Three Secrets of Green Business provides a framework for organizations looking to make their business greener, whilst still maintaining their profit margin.