A Lincolnshire company has teamed up with supermarket group Waitrose to boost its green credentials this Christmas as part of a new supply chain initiative launched by the government-funded Envirowise programme.

Sutton Bridge-based potato supplier, Solanum, has joined the year-round initiative which is designed to encourage food and drink companies and their suppliers to reduce waste and save money - by using water, energy and raw materials more efficiently.

Nick Twell, Services and Environment Director at Solanum, said: “As a company we are aware that increasing emphasis is being placed on environmental issues and we are keen to be at the forefront of technology and best practice. Working with Waitrose and Envirowise we want to continue our work to preserve the environment by improving efficiencies in water, energy and material usage.

“Furthermore, the initiative also aids smooth delivery during busy periods. Particularly in the run up to Christmas a collaborative approach within the supply chain is essential in order to meet volume increases and tighter delivery schedules.”

The four-stage programme of activity, which should take about six months, comprises an introductory workshop, free on-site waste reviews, targeted training workshops and impact assessment for all participating businesses. 

Nick Monger-Godfrey, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Waitrose, said: “We currently stock 18,000 product lines and rely strongly on long-term relationships with our 1,500 suppliers to ensure food quality and availability. By signing-up to the Envirowise supply chain initiative we hope to further strengthen these relationships and encourage suppliers such as Solanum to work together with us to maintain good environmental practices all year round.”

This comes as research by the Envirowise programme - which offers free, confidential advice to help businesses in all sectors reduce their environmental impact and identify costs savings – reveals that many of the UK’s retailers are failing to develop effective supply chain relationships.

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The programme found that, whilst most retailers and wholesalers (91%) are in weekly contact with the supply chain, and see that value of effective supply chain management (94%), few are putting in place the collaborative programmes and processes that can underpin competitiveness and agility, particularly when under pressure.

Julie Adams, Envirowise Regional Manager for the East Midlands, said: “We would urge other large companies operating within the food and drink sector to follow the example set by Waitrose and join us in this exciting new project. Both host companies and suppliers can achieve significant cost savings and improved customer relationships from sharing best practice and working together to reduce their environmental impact.”

“The programme is run by specialists who understand the industry and issues affecting it. Our experience has shown that improved resource efficiency can save up to one per cent of turnover by putting into place simple, low cost measures.”

To find out more about the Supply Chain Initiative - or for general advice on how to reduce waste and boost profits - visit www.envirowise.gov.uk or call the Envirowise Advice Line on 0800 585 794. 

Notes to Editors:

Also working with Envirowise as host companies on the Food & Drink Supply Chain Initiative are Asda, Novotel, Tate & Lyle and McDonalds.

The Supply Chain research was carried out for Envirowise by Critical 2 in September 2005, amongst retail and wholesale businesses employing between six and 250 people.

About Envirowise

Envirowise delivers a valuable programme of confidential advice to UK businesses.  This advice enables businesses to improve profitability by improving their environmental efficiency.

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 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 £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.