New Research Reveals Environmental Policies Are Making The Difference Between Winning And Losing Business
Environmental and Corporate Social Responsibility policies are becoming increasingly influential and are key drivers in the decisions of print and paper buyers according to new research by the WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) Recycled Paper Advocacy Team.
In a study amongst senior executives responsible for the print and paper procurement of major organisations across the UK, the results revealed that their customers are increasingly demanding environmental and CSR credentials (in 67% of cases). Nearly half (42%) of organisations are finding that without such a policy in place they would not be or are not being included on tender and pitch lists.
This is having a knock-on effect, with over two thirds of organisations having or planning to implement a procurement policy which requires their own suppliers to have a clear minimum Environmental or CSR policy. 32% already have such a policy in place and 32% plan to have such a policy.
Consequently, these policies are influential in the decision to procure recycled paper for over two thirds (68%) of respondents.
In some cases they are the main driver for procuring recycled stock (17%), and in others the Environmental or CSR policy has prompted them to look at being more environmentally friendly earlier than they might otherwise have been (31%). For nearly half of organisations (46%), the procurement of recycled paper is useful to support policies in place.
Over half of organisations (58%) believe that a key benefit of using recycled paper is that it helps their marketing and brand image. Two thirds of respondents (64%) state that environmental image is one of the most important drivers in their CSR policy.
According to Jonathan Tame, who heads up WRAP’s Recycled Paper Advocacy Team: “Our research shows that Environmental policies are now more than just ‘green window dressing’ and can make the difference between organisations winning and losing business.
“There are clearly significant environmental and business benefits to using recycled paper, which can provide a quick win in meeting environmental and CSR objectives. More importantly, reducing the amount of paper consumed together with buying recycled has a direct beneficial effect on reducing landfill.”
Going forward, eliminating waste or putting in place waste minimisation measures, increasing recycling and using more recycled paper will be amongst the top actions that are on the agenda for organisations to reduce their environmental impact. Others include reducing use of energy in the office, sourcing from environmentally friendly suppliers and reducing use of staff cars and encouraging staff to use public transport, cycle or walk. Eliminating toxic substances from products, vehicles and facilities and using a renewable energy supplier were also cited.
Editor's notes:
- WRAP works in partnership to encourage and enable businesses and consumers to be more efficient in their use of materials and recycle more things more often. This helps to minimise landfill, reduce carbon emissions and improve our environment.
- Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by Government funding from Defra and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Working in seven key areas (Construction, Retail, Manufacturing, Organics, Business Growth, Behavioural Change, and Local Authority Support), WRAP’s work focuses on market development and support to drive forward recycling and materials resource efficiency within these sectors, as well as wider communications and awareness activities including the multi-media national Recycle Now campaign for England.
- WRAP set up the Recycled Paper Advocacy Team (RPAT) in February 2005 to provide organisations with free, unbiased advice on the environmental and business benefits of switching to recycled papers as part of a sustainable procurement policy. The team comprises eight advocates across the UK, all of whom come from paper and print backgrounds and provide a relevant mix of technical skills and experience.
- Information on the WRAP manufacturing programmes can be found at www.wrap.org.uk/manufacturing/.
- The WRAP survey was conducted in June 2007 amongst 256 organisations across the UK. Respondents were those with responsibility for procuring print and paper.
