The service industry employs two-thirds of Switzerland s workforce, making it the country s most important economic sector. Besides taking steps to improve corporate and office eco-efficiency, the banks, insurers and major retailers are attaching increasing importance to environmental protection in their business policies.
Industry naturally attracts more of the spotlight of ecological interest than the tertiary sector.
But banks and insurers are now helping to boost the eco-efficiency of enterprises by taking environmental risks into account in their lending and premium policies. Large retailers such as Coop Switzerland and Migros have done a great deal towards encouraging environmentally friendly consumer behaviour by introducing organic product lines and new types of packaging. In addition, many service companies and government offices are paying more attention to their own eco-efficiency, particularly with regard to energy consumption, material procurement and office practices.