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Rosie Bailey, Commercial Director at CitySprint explains why a logistics partner can improve the sustainability of delivery operations for facilities managers
Pressure on businesses to reduce their carbon footprint has never been higher, be it from customers, legislators, investors or staff. There is now an expectation and urgency for companies to take meaningful steps to reduce their footprints and adapt accordingly.
In this regard, facilities managers are uniquely positioned to offer solutions within their operations that support the implementation of greener and more sustainable business practices. From assessing their waste management to cutting out single use plastics or going paperless, there are a myriad of ways to reduce the impact business operations have on the environment.
But, whilst implementing greener processes at their locations is an important piece of the puzzle, it’s not the only way FMs can reduce their clients’ impact on the environment. Environmentally friendly deliveries and supply chains play an important part in building a sustainable future. In fact, Scope 3(i)emissions account for more than 70 per cent of the carbon footprint, including energy, transport and supply chain management.
LOGISTICS IMPACT
This is why logistics companies have a key role to play in helping facilities managers cut carbon emissions by incorporating greener supply chains into their network. At CitySprint we’re constantly developing new and better ways to deliver goods in environmentally friendly ways for our customers, including expanding our green fleet. By partnering with the right logistics firm, FMs can take advantage of access to green vehicles to complete deliveries, including push bikes, cargo bikes, e-motorbikes and e-vans.
In addition to the use of alternative fuels and vehicles, the scalability of logistics partners systems also allows them to build in efficiencies and therefore emissions savings. They can help facilities managers expand the range of deliveries they carry out with the added value of time-definite delivery services – and importantly, the use of green vehicles for these journeys. By partnering, facilities managers can benefit from shorter waiting times for loading and unloading items, increasing the efficiency of their supply chain whilst also helping to reduce CO2 emissions.
Furthermore, a logistics partner can also save time by providing flexible electronic invoicing solutions to suit the needs of their client, including multiple references and matter number uploads along with variable billing frequencies. And, by providing appropriate management information and reporting, they can also ensure that mailroom spend can be analysed and controlled and clients can be provided with accurate usage data for business reviews. Service performance data and complaints analysis with corrective actions are all designed to ensure that facilities managers have the right tools to ensure quality of service for their clients.
SUSTAINABLE SUPPORT
At CitySprint, we tailor our support to the individual needs of facilities managers by providing dedicated vehicles to carry out a variety of jobs such as bank runs and expenses runs, on-site implants as well as pouch rooms for mailroom services between offices.
Within what is a highly competitive landscape, a sustainable delivery offer can also be a real point of difference for facilities managers. Indeed, with sustainability high on many organisations’ agendas, sustainability initiatives can help boost profit and create new business opportunities for facilities managers. By reducing emissions for clients and demonstrating the benefits of working with them, including the cost savings and smarter operational models, facilities managers can differentiate and attract more clients.
This year we also began a key partnership with Carbon Neutral Britain, the leading carbon offsetting project. This allows each of our clients to also demonstrate how many miles will be offset, either monthly or quarterly – helping facilities managers to highlight the specific improvements they’ve made on an ongoing basis.
Over the last few years we have seen a rapid shift towards placing sustainability at the heart of decision making. If done right, the equation is not profit versus sustainability. Rather with the right approach and a proper sustainability strategy, Facilities Management can be both greener and protect the bottom line.
