ASDA is helping its suppliers in Scotland boost their green credentials and profits as part of a supply chain initiative launched by Envirowise.
The supermarket group is one of several major retailers taking part in Envirowise’s ‘Retail Therapy’ campaign, which sees companies working closely with their suppliers to become more resource efficient and reduce costs at the same time.
As part of its commitment to the initiative, ASDA has teamed up with Envirowise to host a workshop for Scottish suppliers at its Edinburgh super centre in Brunstane. The workshop on March 2nd will explain how firms can reduce waste and make their products and processes more environmentally friendly through reduced packaging, better energy use and green procurement.
Recent research undertaken by Envirowise revealed that Scottish retailers need to be more creative at forging stronger and more competitive supplier relationships. The research found that during difficult periods 39 per cent of respondents push suppliers to cut prices and 35 per cent seek to reduce the number of suppliers they use. Few are putting in place the kind of collaborative programmes and processes that can underpin competitiveness and flexibility.
Chris McAnn, ASDA’s Ethical Trading Manager, said: "We signed-up to the Envirowise Retail Therapy initiative realising that it was a perfect opportunity for us to influence the environment on a wider scale - and to work with our supply chain to do that.
“We want to support suppliers by helping them to identify opportunities for cost reduction, as well as supporting the environment. In essence, it was a commercial as well as a cost opportunity, which was in tune with our environmental agenda."
As one of ASDA’s suppliers, Matt Dunmore, Engineering Development Manager at Taypack Potatoes Limited, said: "With ASDA’s support we have been able to focus on our responsibilities to the environment while at the same time removing waste and associated costs from the business. This is in tune with our commitment to delivering the best possible value to our customer while ensuring the sustainability of finite resources."
Envirowise Programme Manager for Scotland, Alan Hendry said: “The Retail Therapy programme encourages and equips companies to work together to find solutions to problems such as re-usable packaging, better delivery logistics or smarter product packaging design. Both customers and suppliers can achieve cost savings and other benefits from sharing experiences and taking a closer look at how they interact with others.
“But our experience has shown that all businesses – not just the retail sector - can reduce waste costs by up to one per cent of turnover just by putting in place simple, no cost or low cost measures.”
More information can be found at www.envirowise.gov.uk or by calling the Envirowise Advice Line on 0800 585 794.
Issued on behalf of Envirowise by Harrison Cowley. For further information, please contact Laura McKenzie on 0131 226 2363.
About Envirowise
Envirowise delivers a valuable programme of confidential advice to UK businesses. This advice enables businesses to improve profitability and reduce environmental impact.
Independent, practical and proven guidance is available through the Envirowise Advice Line, information resources and on site visits (Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales only) delivered by a national team of expert advisors. Each solution is driven by the specific needs of individual firms to genuinely improve their business practices, profitability and competitiveness. Since 1994, Envirowise has helped UK industry save over £1 billion.
The Envirowise programme is available to any UK business, completely free of charge. For more information visit www.envirowise.gov.uk or call 0800 585 794.
About Retail Therapy
Retail Therapy is a scheme set up by Envirowise in 2002 to help retailers work better with their supply chains. Envirowise works with host companies which invite their key suppliers to discuss how they can improve business efficiency particularly through minimising waste and maximising cost savings. The forum encourages and equips companies to work together and find solutions to problems, for example re-use of packaging and more efficient use of utilities. All companies involved are offered a free and confidential onsite resource efficiency from Envirowise to help identify potential savings.
The Retail Therapy scheme helps businesses in the supply chain realise the importance of complying with legislation and how good relationships minimise the risk of a break in the supply.
Host companies that have been involved in the scheme to date include Boots the Chemist, Center Parcs and the Co-operative Group.
About the research
Critical 2 carried out the research for Envirowise in September 2005, amongst retail and wholesale businesses employing between six and 250 people.