As being green becomes an increasing priority for businesses, companies across the UK are now having to respond to the challenge or face missing out on contracts. The trend is being driven by legislation as well as shareholder and consumer pressure, according to Urban Wind managing director Phil McVan.

For instance, food sector business Bernard Matthews is set to hit its deadline for becoming an energy neutral business three years ahead of target, bosses have predicted. It has been developing a pioneering partnership with renewable energy developers, securing $139m of third-party investment to utilize the land it owns to house solar and wind farms.

It's a corporate trend that Urban Wind sees is developing, according to its research data, with companies such as BT also keen to buy green energy.

However, according to McVan, they are passing that burden right down the supply chain - with smaller operations being told by the major companies they supply of the pressing need for them to embrace the "green agenda" and switch to renewables or possibly lose their place on that supply chain. But with costs in the millions many suppliers are feeling the pinch, the research suggests.

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