Watford named among most sustainable cities in England to run a business

To find out where businesses can flourish while keeping green credentials intact, the research team at Rubbish.com analysed 100 major areas in England, examining how they perform across a range of environmental and business-related factors.

The study looked at seven key sustainability indicators: the number of BREEAM-certified office buildings (which measure eco-friendly construction), greenhouse gas emissions per capita, recycling rates, business survival rates, electric vehicle (EV) charging points per 100,000 people, cycling as a form of commuting, and energy consumption per household.

Each metric was assigned a specific weight to produce a total score for every city: BREEAM-certified buildings (20%), greenhouse gas emissions (20%), recycling rates (10%), business survival (15%), EV chargers (15%), cycling levels (10%), and household energy consumption (10%). The data came from sources including BREEAM, the Office for National Statistics (ONS), and the UK Government.

Completing the top ten is Watford, with a total score of 50.49. This commuter town just outside London has quietly become a sustainability success story. It ranks 3rd for EV charging points with 330.9 per 100,000 people, highlighting its commitment to cleaner transport. Recycling rates are also solid at 50.2% (14th), and GHG emissions of 3.5 tonnes per person (26th) are comfortably below average.

Watford’s business survival rate (91.7%) (62nd) and cycling rate (1%) (34th) may lag behind, but its mix of accessibility, green infrastructure, and steady economic base make it an ideal location for forward-thinking businesses. With 41 BREEAM-certified offices (52nd) and energy consumption at 256 kWh (57th), Watford continues to strengthen its reputation as a sustainable commuter town on London’s doorstep.

Top 20 best and sustainable cities to run a business in:

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