For the first Go Green breakfast, sustainability expert Christine Storry gives a brief overview and some top tips to help get businesses started on what to consider when they review their procurement processes in order to make steps towards more sustainable sourcing.

1. Go Green
Sustainable Sourcing
26 February 2015
Christine Storry
Not Far From the Tree Ltd

2. Quick Sustainability ‘Refresh’

3. Stationery
• 1st question – do you NEED that ultra-smart,
hard-back notebook full of unrecycled, non-FSC
paper…? Really?!
• Develop a list
• Delivery/transport
• Beware – what looks ‘good’ could have hidden
pitfalls

4. Tea/Coffee, etc
• Fairly traded = all three sustainability issues
covered
• Can’t grow them here so no conflict with local
produce
• Why not? Quality has improved; cost
differential zero or very small

5. Paper/Printing
• Two main options and the choice is yours:
– FSC and/or recycled
• - what is the paper going to be
used for; internal –v- external
• Also consider printing policy; double sided, etc
• Inks and processes for advertising material
• Hang on a minute… 3rd option
– do you need to print?

6. Other examples
• Printers/photocopiers – whole life costing
• Laptops/tablets/mobile phones
• e-invoicing

7. Who’s in Charge of Sustainability?
OR
Communication
Rest of organisation Buyers/procurers

8. What Happens When You Get it
Wrong?
• Reputation
• Increased and/or unnecessary costs
• Nothing – except your conscience, lost
opportunities…

9. If you get right – or nearly right…
 Reduced costs
 Staff retention
 People want to work with you
 Enhanced reputation
 Prime position to supply others
 Knowing you’re making a positive
contribution

10. Summary
• Identify what your want your sustainability
focus to be
• Always consider use before buying
• Have a champion but involve everyone in the
organisation
• If you don’t try…

11. Thank you