Support For BASDA'S Green Charter

Is YOUR Supply Chain Sustainable And Efficient?

"As a member-focused organisation we noticed that there was a demand for clarity around what green IT involves exactly - both for members and our customers. Up to now the IT debate has largely focused on hardware and telecommunications, missing the point that it is business software which will drive and record the improvement in the carbon efficiency of the economy as a whole. What has been missing is a common agreement on what must be achieved and what standards and measurement have to be put in place. The BASDA Green Charter aims to fill this void," commented Peter Robertshaw, VP, Global Marketing, Strategic Thought Group and co-chairman of the BASDA Green special interest group.

"The Green Charter is the latest in a long line of BASDA initiatives which seek to bring clarity and simplicity for both software vendors and their customers. In the past we have had great success working together as an industry on subjects as diverse as European Monetary Union, e-Business and Sarbanes Oxley. BASDA is uniquely placed to take on the challenge of one of the most important issues facing business today. We will work with bodies like the European Commission to ensure targets can be met - whilst still recognising the need for continued economic growth," said Jairo Rojas, Director General of BASDA.

 "The European Commission has acknowledged the important part the business software providers must play. They are the catalysts to enable all sectors of the economy to become more carbon efficient without stifling growth. ICT must be used in innovative ways. We are pleased to be working closely with BASDA and applaud this initiative," commented John Doyle, sustainable development policy co-ordinator of the EU Information Society.

Linda Rodway, Market Development Manager, Proteus Software stated, "The BASDA Green Charter is an excellent initiative to help bring clarity and standards to the green debate. It will be useful for customers and potential customers to compare the level of commitment by software providers."

Kathryne Jobling, Operations Director, Pegasus said, "The BASDA Green Charter will hopefully drive all business software developers to provide more green capabilities into new versions of their existing products, so that they are within easy reach of customers. With Document Management solutions, you can significantly reduce paper waste and minimise your impact on the environment. Climate change gives the ICT industry the impetus to truly enable what it has long promised - the paper-less working environment. At Pegasus we have embedded this technology into the latest release of our Opera II solution."

Kevin Misselbrook, Customer Services Director, Access Accounting Ltd. commented, "At Access Accounting we have already delivered tools that provide carbon measurement and management as an integral part of our financial software.   We see the BASDA Green Charter as a way to encourage the whole software industry to deliver solutions to better inform the full range of business processes. This will enable customers to make better business decisions which can have real environmental impact."

Tim Cole, Director, Causeway Technologies Limited, comments "The importance of Green IT is fully supported by Causeway, both because of its value to the environment upon which we all depend and because it makes sense commercially.  From the processing of prequalification questionnaires to the exchange of invoices, Causeway Technologies is working to reduce the time, cost and natural resources these activities consume.  The objectives of the Green IT Charter are already an integral part of our solution strategy. 

Tim McGrath, Managing Director, Document Engineering Services, comments, 'For the past 30 years business experts have been promoting the idea that paperless is good.  The idea of the paperless office may have become cliched but paperless trading is now emerging as a significant advance in bringing more efficient solutions for business transactions. Not just economically but environmentally.  At Document Engineering Services we are encouraged by the fact that an electronic invoice is a green invoice.  And as an international company we also congratulate BASDA on being the first software association to our knowldege that has introduced such an innovative programme.'

David Forbes, Forbes Computer Systems, comments, 'The BASDA Green Charter has inspired us make changes to our business, but more importantly through changes to our software both enable and encourage our customers in the accountancy profession to be more environmentally friendly particularly with regard to hard copy.'

Emma Jay, Marketing Manager, TeamSpirit Software, comments, 'TeamSpirit Software is demonstrating its commitment to becoming a socially responsible organisation by working towards the environmental standard, ISO14001 and anticipates that it will achieve accreditation by the end of November 2008. TeamSpirit has already identified numerous ways in which the company can reduce its impact on the environment and will be putting these into effect over the coming months. TeamSpirit recognises that this will be a process of continual improvement and will be looking to increase awareness amongst its employees, clients and suppliers with a view to working with like-minded people and organisations.'

Martin Sparkes, Director, Pyramid HR Ltd, comments, 'Pyramid HR are looking at how technology can be used to reduce its carbon footprint'.