Businesses are beginning to realise that going green makes sense - both environmentally and economically.

A commitment to best environmental practice is not just a way for firms to feel good about themselves, and be a good selling point to customers - it can save them a lot of money.

More and more businesses are using their ingenuity and resources and changing the way they operate to fight the impact of carbon emissions and global warming.

Business leaders recognise that they have a social responsibility to make changes and to encourage other businesses to do the same.

Across the Bradford district, people in firms of all sizes and across all sections of industry, such as Andy Longman, managing director of the Suburban Style Bar chain, are making huge efforts to cut their carbon footprint. We visited three of them.

Staff at the five-strong West Yorkshire-based Suburban Style bar chain - there are bistros in Bingley and Chapel Allerton, and bars in Baildon, Otley and Horsforth - are pulling out all the stops to be more green.

"It's our funky environmental policy," laughs managing director Andy Longman, before going on to explain how the firm has taken steps towards becoming 100 per cent environmentally friendly.

The company - which, within the next few months, will be opening in Ilkley and the Leeds Gateway development - recycles all its glass, paper and cardboard, tins, vegetable oil and food waste.

It has invested £1,000 on two waste disposal units for its bistros, allowing it to safely flush food into the existing drainage system to be taken to the treatment works. "We dispose of food-based products this way. It's compacted to a mash, and is completely biodegradable," says Andy.

It has also invested in a £3,000 compactor for cardboard and paper, which Andy says will pay for itself in a year. "It is all worth the investment," he says. "It should save us around £200 a month in landfill taxes alone, and those costs are set to double. A bit of vision will save us money and help the environment. If you don't go green' it is going to cost you. We are a small business and we realise how much we can save on cost. It's a good business decision."

The company is generating four-and-a-half tonnes of "non-returnable" glass per week - mainly beer and wine bottles - all of which is being recycled.

The Suburban Style bars also recycle 100 per cent of their tin waste, although the bistros don't get through that many cans, as they make every effort to use fresh, locally-sourced produce.

Suburban Style also uses energy-efficient light bulbs, has water governors and push-button taps in the toilets, and is in the process of installing light sensors in the toilet areas so that they are only lit when they are being used. It also recycles printer cartridges and staff are encouraged to avoid printing e-mails if possible. An internet booking system cuts down on paper.

The chain is currently upgrading its boilers to highly-efficient condensing ones and is looking into scrapping paper towels in the toilets in favour of Dyson Airblade hand dryers, which are said to use up to 80 per cent less energy than other types.

"We have bought LED Christmas decorations this year, which use 80 per cent less energy than conventional lights," says Andy, "And we are now looking at energy suppliers that produce electricty using renewable means such as wind, sea and sun."

Having taken these steps, he is forging ahead with further plans, which include investigating how to convert its used vegetable oil into bio-diesel, and looking at ways to avoid using packaging that cannot be recycled, such as that used for meat products.

Andy's passion for the way the chain is moving is obvious in his enthusiasm. "I'm the driver of it - I'm really focused on it. We are very proud of what we are doing."

He doesn't see himself as an eco-warrior - just someone who wants to make a difference.

As a father-of-four, he is also learning about environmental issues through his children, and is very aware of the need to protect the planet for the future.

"I'm a family man - in 50 years time I probably won't be around, but I want my kids to be able to breathe. There is so much focus on global warming, we can't ignore it."

Don's Pantry in Bradford's Kirkgate Market is another Bradford business with an environmental conscience.

The expression "good things come in little parcels" certainly applies to this small delicatessen, which is making significant inroads to adopting a green approach to business.

"We are gradually changing the things we use to become more environmentally friendly," says owner Margaret Jenner.

One visible change has been the switching off of their sign, which was lit by 12 fluorescent tubes.

"At first we cut it to eight and now we don't put it on at all," she says, adding that it has the knock-on benefit of savings on bills. "We are also trying to boil the kettle less often," she says.

Customers are encouraged to return plastic containers - which are made from low-density materials - such as those used for coleslaw. "We wash them out and other people within the market take them for storage and other purposes. A lot of people find them useful and it means they are not being thrown away."

Other moves include phasing out plastic carrier bags. "We have always used paper bags for a lot of our goods, and as we use up our existing plastic bags, we are looking at changing to alternatives such as bags made from hemp."

She adds: "We have always used paper bags for our goods anyway, and a lot of customers carry their own larger, long-lasting bags which they want to use."

Cardboard is taken to a central point in the market to be collected and recycled, and, adds Margaret, "Customers can also return egg boxes, which are also recycled.

"I think it is very important that we recycle as much as possible. I do it at home and want to do the same at work. By making an effort we are doing the world a favour."

The green initiatives in place at popular city centre store Primark show that environmentally friendly practices are also the way forward for big business.

The store, which opened a year ago, has two balers, one for cardboard, one for plastic.

"They are heavy bundles - we can get a lot in each one," says store manager Kelly Mason.

The collected waste is transported to Leeds to be recycled. "We pay for it to be collected, but the amount we pay is a saving on the cost of sending it to landfill. We are creating much less rubbish to send to landfill."

Lighting is another area the store - part of a national chain - is looking at. "Unfortunately we still have a lot of strip lights, but many of our offices within the store have lights operated using sensors so they only come on when they are needed." The toilets also have sensor-controlled lighting.

The Dublin-based company has committed to reduce non-recyclable bag usage, with recyclable, brown paper carrier bags used in some stores including London and Liverpool. "It is the way forward," he adds. "In Southern Ireland, paper carrier bags are widely used - and people pay for them."

Clothes hangers are also reused. "We are doing our bit, and we hope to do more in the future."