Co-operative Development Scotland has released its new 'Collaboration Cuts Carbon' report, which outlines the need for companies to work more closely to reduce CO2 emissions.
Co-operative Development Scotland (CDS) has launched a new paper outlining the need for companies to work more closely to achieve the Scottish Government's 2020 energy reduction targets.
The 'Collaboration Cuts Carbon' report outlines how effective partnerships between companies can help Scotland cut its CO2 emissions by 42 percent by 2020.
CDS is a Scottish Enterprise subsidiary, established to help companies grow by setting up consortium or employee-owned businesses.
Consortium co-operatives are established when groups of companies come together to pool their resources. The consortium is run on an equal basis for its members, and may be set up to buy or sell in scale, market more effectively, share facilities or jointly bid for contracts.
There are over 550 co-operative businesses in Scotland with a combined turnover of more than £4 billion and employing 28,600 people. CDS has supported the creation of 119 new co-operatives and employee-owned businesses between 2006 and 2012.
Sarah Deas, CDS chief executive, said: "Collaboration builds trust which allows vital knowledge and ideas to be transferred between companies. This fuels faster and more innovative developments that positively impact on companies' productivity, profit margin and customer base.
"By setting up Consortium co-operatives businesses can reduce costs, share risks and create new platforms for growth. This report shows that the long-term benefits and opportunities created will present businesses with a competitive advantage and create a better future for Scotland."
Read the 'Collaboration Cuts carbon' report
This new report coincides with the launch of a new Collaboration category in the Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards 2012.
More about the new Collaboration category at VIBES 2012