A 10 to 15 strong business supply chain can make savings of more than £150,0001 by working together to improve resource efficiency, say sustainable business experts Envirowise who have today launched a new toolkit to help companies cut costs and enhance supplier relationships.
With financial forecasters predicting tough times ahead for the economy, the need to make efficiencies across the supply chain and work together with suppliers for mutual business benefit has never been greater, says Envirowise.
The comprehensive Supply Chain Partnership Toolkit aims to reduce waste, unlock hidden profits and improve environmental performance. The four CD Toolkit is based on the experience of Envirowise's work with supply chains over six years, which saw 44 host companies and a network of 650 suppliers partner to improve business efficiency through minimising waste and maximising cost savings.
Since its launch in 2002, the Envirowise supply chain programme has identified cost savings worth more than £12.5 million. In 2007 alone, business saved an estimated £2.5m by participating in the supply chain programme.2
The toolkit helps companies to work with their suppliers on the steps needed to make environmental improvements and includes video presentations, key tips, templates and exercises.
Envirowise North East regional manager, Guy Bashford, says: "The key to working with your supply chain is communication and the Toolkit gives businesses tools to help them work in partnership with suppliers, to improve environmental performance and cut costs".
The Supply Chain Partnership Toolkit gives businesses a structured, interactive programme that helps them work with suppliers across many areas of environmental best practice and resource efficiency, including;
- Water minimisation
- Energy management
- Green procurement
- Reducing packaging costs
- Cleaner design
- Transport logistics
The CDs also contain a number of exercises and worksheets to help companies run seminars with suppliers to explore existing business processes and practically apply and measure resource efficiency programmes.
To apply for a copy of the Supply Chain Partnership Toolkit, please visit the Envirowise website: www.envirowise.gov.uk, or call the Envirowise Advice Line: 0800 585794
1. Envirowise estimates based on average cross-supply chain savings achievable though a large business working with around 10-15 of its suppliers
2. Envirowise estimated of savings from the 2007 Supply Chain project - a full audit will be conducted in late 2008
ENDS
Media Enquiries:
Please contact: Harriet Jones or Graeme Jackson at Bray Leino PR
Telephone: 0117 973 1173 Email: hjones@brayleino.co.uk / gjackson@brayleino.co.uk
Notes to Editors
About Envirowise
Envirowise is a Government-funded programme dedicated to putting the sustainable use of resources at the heart of UK business practice.
Since 1994 Envirowise has helped UK businesses save over £1bn by enabling them to significantly reduce their environmental footprints.
Envirowise offers businesses of all sizes and sectors a wide range of free, independent and practical advice designed to genuinely improve their processes, profitability and competitiveness. Services include:
- The Envirowise Advice Line on 0800 585794
- An encyclopaedic website (www.envirowise.gov.uk) of valuable and relevant information
- Over 200 events each year, from Product Design Workshops to major exhibitions