Companies around the UK that are concerned with their environmental impact should be looking to increase the scale of their home-based workforce, a recent report has made clear.

Research carried out recently by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and accountancy firm KPMG shows that while most employees are promoting recycling and energy saving in the workplace, the prevalence of flexible working is not yet widespread.

The report insists that home-working practices can make a particular company more attractive to potential staff because of the positive environmental connotations.

"UK workplaces are making a real contribution to the environment with quick and easy wins such as recycling and energy-saving schemes," wrote Gerwyn Davies, co-author of the study.

"However, there is potential for organisations to promote greener transport alternatives and work practices such as home-working to reduce the environmental impact of business travel."

More than half of those polled by ntl:Telewest recently suggested that working from home would make them a more environmentally-friendly individual.