Using secure online document storage can be a great way of taking a first step towards becoming a greener business.
Businesses which have invested in document scanning and storage to help cut down on the amount of paper they are using have taken an important first step on the road to becoming an environmentally friendly enterprise.
According to Friends of the Earth, there is often little incentive for firms to pursue green goals, other than the ones they realise themselves.
The body claimed that the government does not set a good enough example and that it should do more to lead the way in terms of environmentalism.
Companies that use secure online documents storage are at an advantage when it comes to costs as they can scan a page once and redistribute it electronically for free as many times as they need to.
Distributing paper copies of large documents can be a costly and time-consuming exercise, so firms that avoid this are helping themselves as well as the environment.
Friends of the Earth campaigns director Mike Childs noted that everyone has to pull together to win the battle against climate change.
"We are not going to [be able to] deal with climate change unless everybody plays their part and that includes businesses," he said.
"Businesses have a duty to provide rules for their shareholders, so they effectively operate within the framework the government sets for them."
The expert added that the government sets the example, but is currently not behaving in an exemplary fashion.
Mr Childs noted that while firms should be focusing on renewable fuels, they tend to be tempted back to fossil fuels because the government is focusing more on petrol, oil and gas than wind, solar and tidal power.
"So businesses should be more responsible, but they play the game according to the rules set by the government and the government hasn’t been clear about what they really want to see happen on climate change and energy," the specialist said.