With the prospect of recession looming, many commentators have wondered whether companies will abandon programmes addressing their environmental impact. However, as the price of oil rises to record levels and climate-related floods and droughts start to hit businesses in sectors such as agriculture and tourism, the argument for companies to embrace environmental policies may become even more compelling.

“In the UK, it’s become mainstream in the leading companies in every sector,” says Kavita Prakash-Mani, head of client services at SustainAbility, the consultancy. “Whereas a few years ago it use to be about planting trees and giving money to charity, companies are now looking at it much more strategically.”