Environment secretary Margaret Beckett has criticised the "old pattern" of "produce, use, discard" in Britain's consumer culture.

Forum Response: Environmental Services Association

Dirk Hazell, chief executive of the ESA, told ePolitix.com: "ESA is acutely sensitive to the need not to over-burden enterprise with excessive regulation and taxation: after all, our own members are as exposed as any other businesses to undermining of supply side reforms which have for many years enabled the UK to provide full employment at low levels of inflation.

"However, more consumers are consuming more across the planet than ever before and the present government as a member of the European Union has signed up to policies designed to mitigate global warming and to achieve more sustainable use of resources. Regulatory and fiscal drivers are essential tools in enabling the government to honour promises it has made to the EU about the UK's future environmental performance.

"We are on record in stating our belief that one of the most striking features of the Johannesburg Summit was the tangible evidence of a sea change in global corporate attitudes to CSR.

"On a basis we publicly set out at our own conference last September, we indicated that as the representative body of a major utility we support CSR but there is also a crucial reciprocal obligation on the government to ensure that the total regulatory and fiscal burden imposed on business does not compromise the ability of British business to compete in world markets.

"We are therefore delighted that the government followed our advice in indicating that any increases in the Landfill Tax will continue to be fiscally neutral for British business: in our view, this is wholly in line with best practice on environmental taxation within the OECD."

Forum Response: Institute of Directors

George Cox, director general of the IoD, said: "More and more businesses are becoming aware of social and environmental issues.

"I believe these responsibilities are increasingly recognised within the boardroom. Today no large corporation can fail to recognise the issues, and increasingly this awareness is spreading to the smaller businesses.

"Directors are as concerned about the society in which they live, and the world they are bequeathing to their children as anyone else. And many recognise the impact they can have and the power they have to influence and change, via their corporate roles.

"Globally, only business has the power to alleviate poverty. The issue we face is not spreading wealth, it is spreading wealth creation. That's a role for business not government. Government doesn't have the economic power to alleviate world poverty."

Forum Response: Biffa Waste Services

Peter Jones, director of external affairs at Biffa, told ePolitix.com: "Fine words from Margaret but we need some action. Until government buys in to the need for an online national resource flow database few of us have a clue which materials are going where as feedstock or waste and policy making is in danger of missing the mark.

"DEFRA need to bring a similar level of commitment from DTI and the Treasury if we are to turn fine thoughts into practical deeds - and industry needs help in funding the transitional £30 billion or so cost of operating a resource efficient economy."

Forum Response: British Retail Consortium

Nigel Smith, director of CSR at the BRC, told ePolitix.com: The secretary of state's announcement for a Sustainable Growth Strategy is a welcome development.

"Retailers are constantly working to ensure a safe and attractive shopping environment for their customers, not only because it is good for business, but because they take their social responsibilities seriously. Retailers have been engaged in waste strategy initiatives for many years.

"We support action that sees an improvement to our natural environment although would like to see this underpinned by an investment in the recycling infrastructure to allow consumers to pursue activities that will deliver these actions. The BRC currently supports the National Waste Awareness Initiative that provides a nationwide consumer awareness initiative."

Forum Response: The Chartered Institute of Waste Management

A spokesman for CIWM told ePolitix.com: "The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management welcomes the recent announcement by the secretary of state for the environment, Margaret Beckett, to develop a strategy for sustainable growth in the UK.

"The CIWM hopes that this proposed strategy will bring into focus the responsibility of industry for its contribution to the problem of increasing waste arisings and environmental impacts and also to highlight opportunities for developing cleaner technologies, adopting more sustainable practices and the development of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for large companies in the UK.

"The problems facing the waste management industry through increasing waste arisings and dwindling disposal and treatment capacity are multi-faceted and require addressing on a number of fronts. A well implemented strategy on sustainable growth would represent an important step forward in developing a more eco-friendly economy. The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management supports the concepts of improved resource management and the development of green reporting and CSR in industry.

"In addition the Institution considers that there should be incentives for using recycled and eco-friendly alternatives where practicable and adequate incentives provided for 'cleaner' design alternatives and processes. The CIWM promotes the adoption of environmental management systems and the use of Best Available Techniques within the waste management industry and supports appropriate measures that reduce waste, cut consumption and lessen the environmental burden.

"The Institution is currently developing a Waste Awareness Certificate for everyone who deals with waste. It is anticipated that this could really encourage employees to think carefully about the waste produced in their companies and lead to waste reduction and better management of that which can not be avoided. It is planned to launch the new certificate on 10th June 2003 at CIWM's Annual Exhibition in Torbay.

"The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management is the professional body for the wastes management industry and represents around 5,000 professional people in the United Kingdom and overseas. Part of its role is to provide guidance and information in all areas of waste management, not only for the waste management industry and legislators but also for the nation as a whole."