Aspiring green firms let down by channel

IT firms are struggling to meet the demand for environmentally friendly products

The channel is failing to keep up with demand from UK businesses for greener IT products, according to research from Siemens Financial Services (SFS).

The Our green and pleasant land report, which polled 600 UK firms, claimed that 26 per cent of respondents measure their carbon footprint, while 41 per cent have implemented carbon emission reduction initiatives. In addition, 37 per cent have invested in low-carbon or energy-efficient business equipment.

However, firms are being put off from investing any further, due to a lack of green products available and the initial cost of implementing a green strategy, the report stated.

Peter Austin, general manager of SFS, told CRN: “The channel can help to overcome these obstacles by offering a wider range of green products, and by making finance for equipment more easily available, so that upgrading to more environmentally friendly equipment does not mean a major capital outlay.”

However, the report received a mixed reaction from the industry.
Christopher Evans, managing director of reseller Oak Systems, said: “Most businesses are not bothered about being green and saving the planet unless it saves them money.”

Nick Lowe, managing director for northern Europe at security giant Check Point, said: “We have invested in a support portal to ensure that partners are up to scratch on our products and how to promote the green benefits.”
He added that Check Point has focused on electronic transactions as a greener form of correspondence.

Allan Tyrrell, UK managing director of distributor CDG, said: “CDG noticed a lack of products and product information surrounding the issue of greener IT.
“We look for areas where we can push the benefits of green and give feedback to our vendor partners on how they can make their products greener and educate their channel.”