Edinburgh and Glasgow are the UK’s two most eco-friendly cities with Scotland leading the way on sustainability, a new study has claimed. Factors like commute length, energy consumption, pollution levels and even how many vegan restaurants were all considered to form the findings.
The research, by office furniture specialist Furniture At Work, found Scotland’s capital had the shortest commute in Britain, with one in four commuters travelling less than 5km for work. Glasgow, meanwhile, had the UK’s lowest average energy consumption per household, at around 2700 kWh per year, according to the data.
The study put Edinburgh far and away in front on overall sustainability with a total index score of 78.1 out of 100, followed by Glasgow in second place with 70.2. Hull was third on 68.7 out of 100, followed by Bristol with 64.0 and Leeds in fifth with 56.9. Welsh capital Cardiff made it into ninth place, with an index score of 54.6, while London was tenth with 53.8. No other Scottish cities made the top 20.
A spokeswoman for Furniture at Work says: “It’s fantastic to see Scotland acting as a trailblazer in the UK in creating greener environments for work and living. This survey shows how more eco-friendly living and working environments can increase job satisfaction, workplace culture, and overall employee retention.
“Employers who prioritise eco-friendly initiatives such as shorter commutes and remote working, renewable energy use, and effective recycling schemes can expect a happier, more committed workforce whilst creating a more sustainable future.”
Other criteria factors for the study also included how many vegan eateries were in the city as well as how many B-Corps – firms which meet certain social and environmental standards.
We previously told how Scotland is also storming ahead of the rest of the UK on adopting solar panels, with 29 per cent of Scots who bought low-carbon tech for their homes opting for solar.
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