Environmental business leaders around the region have hailed a latest survey of firms' 'green' credentials a major success.

Business in the Environment (BIE), a commercial campaign for environmental responsibility, attracted interest from 86 per cent of West Yorkshire's biggest names while compiling The Green Index.

This year's response represents a more than 50 per cent increase on the 2000 survey - a fact which gives BIE's chairman, Yorkshire Electricity's Bill Wilkinson, cause for celebration: "The increased participation in the index shows the region's organisations care about the environment and are keen to share best practice.

"I am particularly delighted to note that there has been a fantastic take-up by organisations in Leeds and Bradford, with nine new participants."

The Green Index has compiled a range of environmental information from companies throughout West Yorkshire, which will be analysed to target areas where improvements are needed.

Leeds-based toiletries producer Elida Faberge was one of the new firms to take part this year. Environment operations manager Andrew Mostyn said: "We see the index not only as an opportunity to demonstrate our environmental commitment, but also to help identify where we can make further improvements and become more competitive at the same time."

BIE says it has been impressed by the innovation used by many of the groups questioned to spare damaging the environment. Manager Iain Groark also noted many businesses now accepted that behaving responsibly actually helped profitability and success in the long-term.

The Green Index will be published at a business breakfast in Barnsley on June 5.

To find out more call (0113) 236 0555.