'Going green isn't a tick box, it's an advantage'

Rob Barlow says some businesses are missing out on opportunities for green growth

The benches and picnic tables rolling off the production line at TDP in Wirksworth look like they are made from wood, but are in fact made from recycled plastic bottles.

According to managing director Rob Barlow, a business being environmentally friendly should not be considered a "tick box operation," and should instead be embraced as a commercial opportunity.

"Consumers are very savvy. Particularly younger consumers now understand the problems the world faces and they want to buy products from a company that has good ethics," he said.

The business is, according to a new report, one of an increasing number of East Midlands firms trading in green goods and services (GGS).

After it is processed, the recycled plastic "looks and feels like timber"

The report, published by the East Midlands Chamber and the University of Derby on Thursday, said in the second quarter of 2025, 46.2% of firms were deriving sales from GGS - a 3.3% increase from 2024.

There has also been a 2.7% increase in businesses investing in decarbonisation, according to the report.

A closer inspection, however, shows the rise has been driven by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

For large firms, there has been a 17.5% drop in those investing in decarbonisation.

The report, written by Dr Polina Baranova, said there were a number of possible explanations for the decline, including "political uncertainty that undermines net-zero transition".

"Larger businesses have more risks and exposure to international trading contexts, so when the international environment becomes complicated, it becomes more risky for them to invest in other areas than the core business," she said.

Richard Blackmore, director of policy and insight at East Midlands Chamber, said: "We've seen [large businesses] pick up those quick wins, those low-hanging fruit opportunities to change within their business.

"Now they're looking at much more substantial opportunities to invest, and sometimes these take longer to put in place."

Dr Polina Baranova says large businesses carry more risk

The report goes on to recommend better support for decarbonisation initiatives through grants and expert support.

A government spokesperson said: "The government has a central mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower to bring growth, lower bills and good jobs as part of the Plan for Change.

"As part of that mission we are working closely with business to drive decarbonisation across the economy, including through our Net Zero Council."

In the case of TDP, the product itself is environmentally friendly, but Mr Barlow said they also made efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of their business operations, including making sure machinery was energy efficient.

"When we have a delivery from our supplier, we then send back our waste on the same lorry. Little things like that are reducing transport costs and transport miles," he said.

"Most people think 'I'm too small to make a difference'. You're not. We can all make a difference and together, it adds up."