Pressure also comes in another guise for smaller businesses. Large public and private organisations face more pressure from investors, employees and customers – all calling for companies to show their commitment to Corporate and Social Responsibility.
The squeeze can then be transferred down the supplier network, with smaller companies under pressure to prove their environmental credentials. Green certification can bring cost savings, improved quality and waste reduction – but there can be a perceived cost and time implication that smaller companies may not be keen to embrace. The crunch for smaller companies is that by not buying into a greener vision for business, they risk being dropped from supply networks in favour of firms that do.
Case in point
As Glasgow food manufacturer Calder Millerfield discovered, where there are threats to business there are also opportunities. As a supplier to the Co-op Group, the company attended a series of Envirowise workshops with other members of the supply chain. By sharing knowledge and best practice in specific areas such as packaging and process control, Calder Millerfield were able to realise their ambition for a more sustainable business.
Technical Director, Cameron Kyle, says:
"We are very keen to drive out any unnecessary excess packaging and we are committed to reducing waste and encouraging re-use wherever possible – the workshops were a massive help."
Becky Toal, Co-op Environmental Programme Manager was equal in her praise for Envirowise's supply chain initiative:
"We have a large number of suppliers and this programme has really opened their eyes to potential cost savings. The environment is very important to us as a business, so it should be to our suppliers too."
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