Businesses need no convincing that addressing sustainability effectively has many positive outcomes, including a good reputation, cost reduction and even increased profitability. Consumers have never been more sustainability savvy, and government and industry are increasingly focused on the topic.
At Bunzl, our sustainability strategy goes beyond how we operate our business – we look at ways we can work with our entire value chain, from our partner suppliers right through to our customers. Not only do we want to source responsibly and minimise our impact on the environment, we also want to create value by supporting our customers to meet their sustainability objectives.
So, what are the biggest trends in sustainability, and how can we help our customers find solutions? We’ve identified three…
1 SINGLE-USE PLASTICS
There’s growing consumer awareness of the issues posed by some single-use plastics. South Australia has been the first state to get a ban – on single-use straws and cutlery – over the line and other Australian states and territories, as well as New Zealand, are predicted to follow. Not all plastics are banned, and certainly not all single-use ones. Items made from renewable resources such as bamboo and paper are still acceptable, as are recyclable plastics. We’re working with our customers to support the transition to alternatives that will meet all new requirements.
2 LANDFILL
Reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill is not a new concept, but the ways we
approach it are changing. Technology is playing a huge part in how we work with our customers – the latest in pallet wrap innovation, for example – and using cutting-edge machines at the right tension can have huge waste-reduction (and cost) benefits.
3 CARBON EMISSIONS
When we deliver to our customers, we optimise deliveries where we can; and we encourage our customers to do the same thing. By consolidating deliveries, we can reduce the number of trips each truck takes and this, in turn, saves carbon. We can estimate the carbon emission from your Bunzl deliveries, and you can watch how these change over time if you optimise your ordering patterns. Want to reduce waste and operating costs and ultimately add value to what you bring to your customers?
Contact sustainability@bunzl.com.au
