Print.IT Reseller - issue 68

VOX POP PRINT IT RESELLER.UK 39 We all have a responsibility in our professional and personal lives to do what is right for the environment Often defined as a megatrend, sustainability continues to become more important for all companies, across all industries. Following on from last issue, our panel shares their thoughts on corporate responsibility and sustainable procurement practices The business of sustainability: Part II Mark Bailey, Managing Director, EBM : “We divide CSR-type activities into three pillars: charitable giving, community support and environmental matters. We have a separate approach to each, all overseen by one manager for a unified approach. We seek to build upon staff involvement, established relationships and business opportunities.” Mark Garius, Managing Director, ASL Group : “We all have a responsibility in our professional and personal lives to do what is right for the environment. As a business owner I have the opportunity to influence this strategy and it is important to me that we operate conscientiously. “Our remote monitoring software solutions ensure that machines in the field are permanently evaluated for their efficiency and toners are dispatched on a ‘just in time’ basis, ensuring toner wastage is minimised. In addition, this software allows 25 per cent of machine malfunctions to be fixed remotely – reducing the number of engineer visits and minimising unnecessary journeys. “ASL operates a 100 per cent cartridge recycling scheme, with nothing going to landfill, for our customers. The scheme is free and covers the complete recycling of all the toner cartridges within our customers’ operations – including non-ASL cartridges. We provide a recycling box, we collect the empty cartridges and replace them with new. Our customers receive a certificate of compliance reassuring them that the recycling process is effective.” James Turner, Product Marketing Manager , Y Soft : “Like all organisations, we want our business to grow, but we also want other businesses to expand and thrive as well. This is why we have recently launched a series of social responsibility programmes which focus on: legislation, watch dogs, civic society, digital transformation and egovernment. These programmes are embedded in our business operations and in our philosophy of aiming to think globally and act locally. All of our employees are openly encouraged to help support social and environmental issues both in and out the office.” Andrew McKenzie, Head of CSR, Commercial Group : “Our founder and MD Simone Hindmarch has introduced and spearheaded the CSR agenda within Commercial. In addition she launched our award-winning Change Champions Programme, through which over 100 employees have been empowered to drive CSR initiatives throughout the business.” Ross Hooton, Media Manager, Print Logic : “We’re firm believers in supporting local communities, and we regularly organise charity events across the business. We choose one local cause as our ‘Charity of the Year’ and support them with as many fundraisers and events as possible. As well as this we donate machines to those who are in need of them most in the community. We also invest our resources into the future with our apprenticeship program, which trains the next generation of industry experts under the supervision of our most senior technicians.” Mark Bailey: “It certainly isn’t a disadvantage. We offer clients the opportunity to conduct their business printing on a carbon neutral basis – this has proved a valuable talking point at the very least, and resulted in some fantastic opportunities. In this sense, we do believe it to be an advantage. “There’s also more to consider in terms of ‘advantage’. A strong CSR element within our business helps us attract the right staff, and helps our existing team members feel supported and encouraged, which we also think of as an important competitive advantage.” Mark Garius: “It isn’t about beating your competitor, it is about doing the right thing and ensuring that we play our part in helping to protect our environment, and to best understand the needs and demands of customers. So far, we have never fallen short of their demands, no matter which industry they work in.” James Turner: “There’s a view that taking steps to reduce the impact your business has on the environment can be expensive and time consuming, and these are problems nobody wants to encounter when running an organisation. But the truth is, going green doesn’t have to impact profit margins and it isn’t a PrintIT Reseller: How have you embedded CSR into your business operations and strategy? continued... PrintIT Reseller: Do you consider strong environmental performance to be a valuable source of competitive advantage? Mark Bailey