UK businesses that voluntarily report greenhouse gas emissions experience benefits in cost savings, improved green reputation and investor relations, according to new research.

The report published by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) found that emissions reporting appears to be particularly useful to investor relations, where it demonstrates the company’s environmental credentials and encourages investment.

PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Carbon Disclosure Project, which worked with Defra on the research, found that just over half of companies (53%) believe emissions reporting is beneficial to their business overall.

“It is encouraging to find that many companies see GHG reporting as beneficial to their business,” says the Government’s chief scientific advisor, Bob Watson. “The emission figures seem to act as a catalyst for other changes within the company resulting in wide ranging benefits for both the environment and the business.”