Sustainable Sourcing and Supply Chain Solutions
Connected Sourcing turns sustainability into action—aligning suppliers, cost structures, and production realities to deliver measurable impact.
Make smarter sourcing decisions with Connected Sourcing—where sustainability, cost control, and supplier performance are managed together, not in isolation.
Why Sustainability in Sourcing is Complex?
Sustainable sourcing isn’t a simple switch it’s a series of trade-offs, constraints, and real-world decisions across your supply chain.
- Cost vs. Sustainability Trade-offs
Sustainable materials often increase costs, but not all investments deliver meaningful impact. The challenge is identifying where sustainability creates value versus unnecessary spend.
- Supplier Limitations
Not all suppliers can meet sustainability requirements due to capability, certification, or cost constraints. Replacing them isn’t always viable, making supplier improvement a necessary strategy.
- Material and Production Constraints
Sustainable alternatives may be limited, difficult to scale, or introduce trade-offs in quality
and lead times. What works in concept often breaks down in production.
- Integrated supply chain support
Regulations, customer expectations, and reporting requirements are evolving quickly. Businesses must adapt without clear standards while ensuring compliance does not disrupt cost structures or operations.
Sustainable sourcing isn’t about choosing between cost and impact—it’s about navigating constraints to make informed, commercially viable decisions.
Our Approach to Sustainable Sourcing
We take a practical approach to sustainability—working within real supply chain constraints to identify changes that are feasible, cost-aware, and scalable.
Material Selection
01
We assess material options based on availability, cost, performance, and environmental impact. The focus is on identifying alternatives that work in production not just in theory.
Supplier Alignment
02
We work with existing and new suppliers to align on achievable sustainability improvements. This includes capability assessment, realistic targets, and incremental changes that don’t disrupt operations.
Packaging Optimisation
03
We evaluate packaging formats, materials, and volumes to reduce waste and improve efficiency. Changes are designed to balance sustainability gains with cost, protection, and logistics requirements.
Logistics Considerations
04
We factor in transport modes, shipment planning, and consolidation opportunities. The goal is to reduce environmental impact without increasing lead times or introducing unnecessary cost.
Our role is to make sustainability actionable integrating it into sourcing decisions without compromising how your supply chain performs.
Sustainable Materials
We evaluate and apply materials based on real-world sourcing constraints—balancing performance, cost, and environmental impact across different product and packaging applications.
rPET (Recycled PET)
Derived from post-consumer plastic, rPET is used as a recycled alternative to virgin plastic in non-food applications.
Commonly used in textiles, bags, and delivery packaging where durability and flexibility are required without compromising performance.
Reduces reliance on virgin plastics and supports circular material use while maintaining similar functional properties to standard PET.
Limited suitability for food-grade applications due to strict quality and traceability requirements, along with variability in recycled material supply.
PLA (Polylactic Acid)
PLA is a biodegradable material derived from renewable resources such as corn starch, used as an alternative to conventional plastics in packaging.
Used in food packaging, shopping bags, and delivery applications where compostability is prioritised and material stress is relatively low.
Supports renewable material use and reduces dependence on fossil-based plastics in suitable packaging scenarios.
Requires industrial composting infrastructure and has lower heat resistance, limiting use in high-temperature or heavy-duty applications.
Packaging Optimisation
We optimise packaging to reduce material use, improve efficiency, and lower overall cost without compromising product protection or operational requirements.
- Right-Sizing Packaging
We adjust packaging dimensions to better match product size, reducing excess material and unused space. This lowers material costs and improves shipping efficiency.
- Recyclable Packaging Materials
We establish defined requirements around quality, timelines, and working practices to ensure alignment from the outset.
- Paper Tape and Material Simplification
Through active supplier management, we maintain visibility across production and address issues early.
Warehouse & Operations
Our warehouse operations are designed to reduce waste at source while improving efficiency across inbound and outbound processes—integrating sustainability directly into day-to-day fulfilment.
- Recognised Operational Performance
Our facilities have been awarded the UKWA Environment Award, recognising the consistent application of environmentally responsible processes across warehouse operations. This reflects measurable improvements in waste reduction and operational efficiency.
- Packaging Waste Reuse System
We convert inbound transit packaging waste into protective infill material for outgoing orders. This reduces the need for additional packaging materials while lowering disposal costs. It also minimizes waste generated across the supply chain.
- Integrated Shredding and Reuse Process
Incoming packaging that would typically be discarded is shredded and reused on-site as protective packaging. This is provided at no additional cost to customers. The process reduces both material consumption and waste output.