Supply Chain Sustainability: Working towards a greener future
At Alpine Fire, sustainability is more than a commitment, it’s a driving force behind our innovation. We’re proud to lead the fire suppression industry towards a greener future, exemplified by our silver EcoVadis medal, placing us in the top 15% of companies assessed for sustainability.
With this in mind we were proud to host our first supply chain sustainability event at The Whitaker Museum in April, giving us the chance to share details of our own ESG journey and hear about some of the schemes and initiatives our partners have launched to align with their own green agendas.
The day was kicked off by Richard Bradley, our Commercial and Procurement Director, and Lewis Bentley, our Procurement Manager, who set out the event itinerary.
As part of this scene-setting exercise, Lewis explained how we set our own supply chain criteria and gave an overview of the wider ESG landscape businesses across all sectors are currently facing.
He shared how we’ve seen firsthand that organisations who are prioritising greener and cleaner initiatives are primed for growth and will be better set up to take advantage of technological advancements in relation to sustainability going forwards.
Following on from Lewis was our Group Managing Director, Claire Owens, who gave an overview of our journey, goals, future and sustainability direction before Richard began a more technical session.
Focusing on Alpine’s sustainable vision and ESG goals, he discussed our experience in relation to ESG and highlighted the importance of Alpine’s supply chain sharing similar ambitions and commitments.
As a business which cares about Protecting People, Property and Planet, our aim is to reduce emissions; manage waste and increase renewable energy; report transparently; and look out for the wellbeing of our employees.
Failure to do all of the above could potentially lead to challenges with talent acquisition and securing new business which is why having a clear and effective sustainability strategy is paramount.
Before we wrapped up the Alpine-led part of the day our HSEQ Manager, Tracey Golden, gave an overview of our environmental management responsibilities and activities, and she was followed by our Operations Director, Mark Thewlis.
Discussing the Alpine Fire campaign, industry innovations, technological advancements and legislative changes – including those affecting the use of fire-fighting foam – Mark’s insightful update was well received and certainly provided food for thought.
The focus of the day then turned to our supply chain partners who shared updates relating to their own ESG journeys and experiences.
A huge thank you to Shawston International, Hire Safe Solutions, CST Industries UK and Victaulic who all gave thought-provoking presentations and provided inspiration on ways in which to implement greener and cleaner practices.
Our Procurement Team thoroughly enjoyed hosting the day – here are a selection of their thoughts following the event:
- Lewis Bentley (Procurement Manager) – “It was inspiring to see the value our supply chain gained from the event. ESG must remain at the forefront of our operations, and it is encouraging to see the progress our supply chain partners are already making toward this goal.”
- Megan Selby (Buyer) – “It was encouraging to see such a strong turnout from our supply chain partners and their enthusiasm to collaborate with Alpine as we continue to grow.”
- Joanne Ashton (Procurement Administrator) – “What a brilliant day collaborating with our suppliers. It was great to hear about the many sustainable practices and initiatives taking place and the day facilitated some very insightful discussions.”
- Lucy Murphy (Procurement Administrator) – “It was fantastic to see the supply chain positively engaging with the event. With the ever-increasing importance of ESG initiatives, it was clear that our valued suppliers are aiming to make this a priority.”
- Leo Su (Procurement Administrator) – “It was a pleasure meeting our suppliers in person, and the presentations provided valuable insights into the broader industry landscape and highlighted the critical importance of ESG initiatives.”
- Katie Tracey (Buyer) – “It was great to put names to faces of some suppliers we speak to regularly but not had the chance to meet until now. From seeing what ourselves and our guest speakers are doing for ESG, I found that more suppliers are stepping forward with what they are doing and providing those details.”
For more information on our ESG journey, visit: https://www.alpinefire.co.uk/sustainable-fire-suppression/.