Sustainability - Amongst the few...

I'm coming to the realisation that maybe we’re amongst the few...

As we try to up our sustainability game I often convince myself that we’re the ones playing catch up. That most other, bigger businesses must surely have time and resource to do more than we manage… but perhaps not.

Thanks to another delightfully simple nudge from Small99, we recently sent out emails to 10 of our main suppliers asking for environmental policies, emissions data and/or ANYTHING to show some kind of commitment to environmental sustainability. I'll share the full results of that in due course (most are yet to even reply), but let's just say the results have been underwhelming.

One supplier came back with;

"We currently do not have available the information that you are requesting."

When I pushed on the fact I was happy to just hear anecdotal evidence of ANYTHING they've done, the response was;

"we currently do not have any documentation compiled that is available to share"

So you don’t yet have a sustainability policy or emissions data? Fine, we’re still ironing this out too. But to come back with literally zero indication that you even give a hoot about the environment is poor to say the least. Not even a blog post about that time you all went to stroke some bunnies at the local farm. Nothing.

I’m well aware there is a lot to do, and it can seem overwhelming, but to do nothing just doesn’t cut it anymore. At least open yourselves up to a conversation about it. I’ll certainly be inviting that conversation with any supplier that does come back with a lacklustre response.

All this to say, please push your suppliers for some information. The more they are asked, the more likely they’ll be to take some action.