With concerns about the environmental impact of business, have you implemented measures to improve operations? LED lighting, renewable energy and waste management are all steps to cut CO2 emissions from internal operations. However, this can be taken a step further when you look beyond your business. In this article, we explore ways to decarbonise your supply chain.
How to Achieving Supply Chain Sustainability
The first step in taking control of your supply chain is to research your suppliers. Are they advocates for positive climate action and how is this put into action? Engage with them to find out more about where they source goods from and what checks they have in place. Do they meet any standards or accreditation that demonstrate their commitment? Can they share any data that helps you evidence supply chain sustainability?
If they can’t answer your questions, or their claims aren’t substantiated, look at others with a stronger green agenda. Sustainability should be a priority for every business. So, if not, it’s time to switch suppliers.
At Aylesbury Box Company, we are actively working towards Net Zero. We monitor energy and water use and actively minimise waste. We source cardboard from sustainable sources and as a business, we have achieved FSC® C169064 certification.
Can You Use Credit Schemes to Decarbonise Your Supply Chain?
Even with tight and effective systems, some carbon is generated in any production and shipping process. Therefore, for businesses that have achieved Net Zero or are working towards it, a solution is to invest in a scheme that counters this.
At Aylesbury Box Company, we offer customers the option of neutral delivery. Working with Climate Impact Partners, we can provide the option to pay for credits that offset carbon released in delivering boxes from our factory to customers. As we are shipping packaging from Buckinghamshire, rather than across the globe, the distance travelled isn’t far. Therefore, the cost of credits is relatively low.
Credits work by calculating the emissions generated during transportation. The customer then pays for credits that finance global habitat protection and restoration, or renewable energy projects. Over 600 projects have been supported through Climate Impact Partners credits. These are making a positive impact on ecosystems and communities across the world.
It’s important to note that carbon credits add to supply chain costs and they should be seen as a final step, rather than a default option. However, they offer a practical way to help maintain environmental balance. Currently, a couple of our larger customers have opted for credits as a means of decarbonising their supply chain. We are happy to extend this to other BCorp, Net Zero or environmentally conscious customers.
If you would like to know more about our sustainability data or how we can help your business with carbon credits, call us on 01296 436888 or email enquiries@abcbox.co.uk and speak to our team.
Seek Advice from Suppliers
As a third step towards decarbonising your supply chain is to ask for your suppliers’ advice on reducing your environmental impact. They might recommend green packages or schemes that help boost your eco credentials. It could be the option for electric vehicle delivery or a change in design that embraces circular thinking and promotes product reuse, repair or recycling.
Our team have a proactive approach and we don’t wait for customers to ask. As such, it is standard policy for us to advise on ways to reduce packaging volume and remove plastic packaging. In addition, we actively recommend recycled materials and those which are widely recycled. If there is a better option, we’ll let you know. Finally, our Sustainability Policy is shared for you to review.
