New guidance aiming to make it easier for UK businesses to demonstrate their sustainability performance have been proposed by environment minister Lord Taylor.

The proposals include detailed advice on how firms can measure and report on their impact on wildlife and natural services such as clean air, clean water, food and timber. Advice will also be offered to help companies identify where they can make savings in their business model.

Leisure centres, property companies and sports facilities are among the businesses set to benefit from the guidance, which will now enter a consultation period managed by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

The guidance builds on the agreement at Rio+20 (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) where British firms and Government helped secure international support to encourage businesses to include sustainability information in their annual reporting.