Ethics slide in economic climate

Sustainability and corporate social responsibility is the lowest item on the procurement agenda when it comes to choosing a supplier, according to a new study by global office supplies firm Office Depot. The good news is that this will change in the next two years.

The research, which questioned company representatives responsible for buying in goods and services, found that only one per cent ranked it most important and 20 per cent thought that it was least important of all.

Matt Smith, head of procurement at Office Depot said: “There is some degree of contradiction within these results. When choosing a supplier, there are a number of criteria that have to be met and considered, but it is surprising to see how low sustainability ranked when it is expected to grow to significant importance within a couple of years.

“Cost reduction and greater efficiency in the supply chain are the biggest challenges that need to be overcome and they are the key drivers for decision making in the current climate.”

Ethics important

Ethical credentials of a supplier was classed the most important area of sustainability (29.7 per cent), as well as a supplier’s carbon footprint (17.4 per cent).

Matt added: “There is no doubt there’s an awareness of sustainability in the marketplace and it is something we recognise as a global business. People are more environmentally conscious than in times gone by and businesses should make steps, if they aren’t doing so already, to adapt their supply chain accordingly.”

Office Depot promotes a number of green initiatives such as consolidated deliveries, cutting down on paper and packaging, e-billing and a cargo-cycle initiative, which replaces diesel delivery vans with battery and pedal-powered bicycles and electric vans within Central and East London.