Fifteen years ago waste disposal was simply about choosing where to bury the next rubbish load.  Not now, says Robert McKechnie of Green Oak Solutions, whose background with blue-chip electronics provided an opportunity in environmental management software.   “We’re a much more carbon and waste aware society, and government is compelling public and private bodies to think about their whole cycle of usage.”

The business was founded seven years ago, with an innovative waste management solution – We3 Recycler.  “It’s really been effective for waste management and recycling companies requiring software to automate their core business processes, including meeting their statutory compliance reporting obligations.  We see our role as providing best in class solutions that help companies successfully manage environmental challenges, including waste and carbon.”

Now, there’s an increasing necessity for public and private sectors to monitor their carbon footprints. The good reputation earned through deployment of We3 Recycler has helped establish Green Oak Products’ more recent venture, Carboncheck, broadening their holistic approach.

“Four years ago there were emerging global standards, but at the time there were not any really robust tools on the market to manage emissions compliance.  We knew that proper enterprise tools would be needed.  Carboncheck enables measurement of carbon emissions from a wide variety of sources, such as buildings, transportation and travel activity, and even waste treatment and work-related employee activity.  Essentially, clients can measure their dynamic carbon footprint”.

Robert notes that Scottish Enterprise provided the main plank of support for the emerging company, but says there’s a huge amount of material out there for self education.  “The Carbon Trust has good information and courses, and we did bring experience to the company, from our relevant industry backgrounds”.

Word-of-mouth referral from business contacts has been key to the firm’s success.  It helped forge links with export markets, including a partnership deal with the Chinese city of Wuxi, where the company is involved in designing a city-wide carbon management system. 

There are several thousand large businesses in the UK, all energy-intensive, which are required by existing legislation to monitor and report their carbon emissions.  With many of them already benefitting from the administrative efficiencies offered by Green Oak’s products, Robert McKechnie foresees this as becoming a primary driver in his market. 

“Brand leading companies are readily adopting green credentials; there’s an obvious commercial advantage for them,” he says. “And among the SME community there’s significant awareness and a growing readiness to embrace the advantages of carbon reduction.

“For us, this is a business opportunity we’ve exploited, but it’s one that we firmly believe in.”