Manufacturers are being held back when it comes to red tape surrounding environmental legislation, a new report from EEF has claimed.
According the EEF's Green tape: manufacturers' views of progress on Defra's regulatory reform agenda report, less than one in ten manufacturers said that cuts to red tape have saved them time or money.
Almost three quarters of respondents (73 per cent) called for reform in environmental and climate change policies, while smaller companies said they want to see green legislation cut down.
According to the research, the call is strongest in the rubber making, chemicals and metals industries.
EEF chief executive Terry Scuoler said: "Our report shows that manufacturers remain committed to addressing environmental and climate concerns, but are still having to wade through unnecessary levels of complexity and red tape in order to do so, which in too many cases is holding them back.
"The previous government got off to a good start in identifying the roadblock caused by poor legislation and began to take steps to simplify the stock of guidance and legislation in this area.
"There is, however, a real appetite in the sector for bolder reform that increases fairness, creates markets and improves the environment without damaging competitiveness, impeding innovation or creating barriers to trade, investment and efficiency."