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According to a poll by networking site BT Tradespace, a quarter of SMEs are helping ease their environmental impact by clamping down on commuting to work.

It\'s long been believed that flexible business practices are the best way of encouraging employees to think about their energy consumption and day-to-day activities.  In response to this, more and more businesses are implementing more home or flexible working schemes, or using more business technology such as video or telephone conferencing. Car-pooling and public transport are still encouraged wholeheartedly.

The poll also shows that in the workplace, recycling is the most popular individual green initiative, carried out by 25%. 17% of businesses are reducing energy use – also cutting their gas and electricity bills in an effort to survive amidst rising utility prices as well as scrutiny of their sustainability.

Jennifer Mowat, director, BT Tradespace, said: \"Companies can help the environment in many ways and the size of SMEs allows them to be more flexible in adopting new work patterns.

 \"Key decision-makers are realising that modern technology like broadband cuts the need to travel to work every day of the week because people can work from home.

\"The vast majority of SMEs are environmentally aware and are trying to do something in the fight against global warming.\"

Hearteningly, the survey on www.bttradespace.com found that only 2% of the UK\'s SMEs are doing nothing to help the environment.