Woking ranks fourth in England’s sustainable business rankings for 2026

To answer that question, researchers at Ecomposite Products, specialists in sustainable composite fencing solutions, analysed 100 major areas across England to identify the most sustainable locations for running a business. The study assessed seven indicators that reflect both environmental impact and long-term business health: the number of BREEAM-certified office buildings, greenhouse gas emissions per capita, recycling rates, business survival rates, electric vehicle charging points per 100,000 people, cycling as a commuting method, and average household energy consumption.

Each factor was weighted to calculate an overall sustainability score for every city. BREEAM-certified buildings and greenhouse gas emissions were weighted most heavily at 20 percent each, followed by business survival and EV charging infrastructure at 15 percent apiece. Recycling rates, cycling levels and household energy use accounted for the remaining 30 percent. Data was sourced from BREEAM, the Office for National Statistics and UK Government datasets, offering a detailed snapshot of where green infrastructure and business stability overlap most effectively.

Woking ranks fourth overall with a total score of 52.72. Recycling is a particular highlight, 55.8% of waste is recycled, placing Woking sixth nationally. This commitment to reducing landfill and improving waste management helps the town stand out despite its smaller size.

Business survival rates are equally strong, with 94.2% of companies continuing to trade, ranking seventh in the study. This shows that Woking is not just environmentally aware but also a dependable place to operate a business.

The town’s green infrastructure also supports sustainable operations. Woking has 64 BREEAM-certified office buildings (30th nationally) and 107.8 EV charging devices per 100,000 people (14th), giving firms access to modern, low-emission facilities. Average household energy use is 241 kWh per home (26th), while greenhouse gas emissions are 3.5 tonnes per person (27th), showing the town keeps its environmental footprint moderate.

Cycling is less common in Woking, with just 0.9% of commuters travelling by bike (46th), but this is balanced by strong performance in other areas, particularly recycling and business resilience. Overall, Woking proves that even smaller towns can punch above their weight when it comes to sustainable, future-ready business environments.

London tops the 2026 ranking by a wide margin, driven by its unrivalled number of BREEAM-certified office buildings and the highest level of EV charging access in England. Cambridge ranks second, standing out for business survival and cycling levels, followed by Oxford in third, which performs strongly for recycling and low-impact commuting.

Woking and Wokingham place fourth and fifth thanks to high recycling rates, strong business stability and low household energy use. Cheltenham, Bracknell and Poole follow in sixth, seventh and eighth, each combining solid environmental scores with reliable business performance. Reading ranks ninth, supported by EV infrastructure and certified offices, while Watford completes the top ten in tenth place.

List of the top 20 cities for sustainable business: