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Responsible sourcing

Our expert team will help you align your sourcing strategy with your ESG goals.

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Increased investment

72% of organisations are planning to increase their investment in Supply Chain Management (SCM) over the next year (2022).

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Cloud-based future?

94% of supply chain professionals believe that cloud computing will be essential for success in the future.

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Rise of the robot

92% of supply chain professionals believe that the use of robots and automation will be essential for success in the future.

SUPPLY CHAIN CONSULTANCY

Responsible sourcing and clear information is key to making the best, most sustainable choices that are right for your business

 

Sustainability is central to our business and our commitment to sustainability runs through our entire supply chain. With our in-house expertise and collaborative partnerships with key suppliers and stakeholders, we are best placed to advise clients on solutions to increase supply chain transparency and implement sustainable alternatives.

At Commercial we source products and services from 66 different countries, so we understand the importance of managing the intricacies of the supply chain process. Our expert team can advise on a range of supply chain solutions to suit your organisation’s needs and goals.

Your partner for sustainable supply chain know-how

 Commercial’s passion and proven track record when it comes to sustainability make us ideal partners as you navigate your journey to a more sustainable supply chain.

In-house expertise

Our supply chain management team works alongside our sustainability and procurement teams enable all our ESG consultancy experts to work in partnership with each other for a more sustainable approach to business

Accreditation

Commercial’s supply chain management is a fundamental part of our sustainability journey. We have been a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) since 2001, Sedex since 2011 and EcoVadis since 2021

Products with Purpose

We want to make it easy for our client to make positive choices. Our Products with Purpose range, launched in 2015, consists of nearly 4,000 product lines, each with an ethical, social or environmental credential

Handling network logistics effectively

While the benefits of sustainable supply chain management are evident, there are challenges businesses can face as they seek out more sustainable ways of working and the best ways to implement them. Here are five common issues and the solutions we offer:

Knowledge is power
It’s hard to keep abreast of all the benefits of sustainable supply chain practices. Our team of experts understand this. We are here to help you navigate them and any potential challenges involved in implementing them. We work with you to help you find the right products or services to support your sustainable supply chain goals.
Limited expertise
Processes and logistics can be complex and overwhelming if you don’t have the right resources and expertise readily available in-house. This is where our experts can help. We work in parallel supporting our clients navigate how to responsibly and sustainably manage their supply chain.
High costs
Implementing more sustainable supply chain practices can require significant investment in new technologies, equipment and personnel. We can work with you to ensure any updates to your supply chain process are realised in line with budget and your wider ESG plans.
Lack of standards
Sustainable supply chain practices are evolving all the time and so are the frameworks for reporting and measuring the processes. Our ESG experts will help you navigate and evaluate as well as keep abreast of the latest legislation.
Supply chain complexity
We understand clients need to work with multiple providers throughout an often complex and global supply chain. We partner with you to manage all the different stakeholders to avoid any potential misalignment at the same time as minimising risks and maximising opportunities.

Click here to build a solid foundation with Commercial’s expert advice.

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Don’t just take
our word for it…

Commercial deliver. We are fortunate to work with some amazing partners. Here are some examples of great things we hear every day.

Commercial went above and beyond to instill complete confidence in a leading High Street retailer regarding the health and safety compliance and sustainable manufacturing of their workwear. Throughout the ordering process, Commercial's team provided all the necessary documentation for BSIF accreditation and even invited their staff to visit manufacturers to witness the process firsthand.

Benefits for our clients

Leading by example

 

Commercial’s commitment to sustainability began in 2006. We have gained valuable experience over this time, building up extensive expertise and knowledge.

Our consultancy support combines commitment and expertise. With this experience and a whole host of complementary services, we offer a full service ESG consultancy service that takes into account all aspects of your sustainability journey and requirements.

Product sourcing
Everything in our Products with Purpose range of office supplies is selected for their environmental, social and ethical credentials. We take into account product packaging, health and safety and reducing the use of plastics.
Supplier selection
Commercial ensure that all suppliers we work with are subject to an internal assessment, either in person, by telephone or video call, every quarter. This is in addition to a physical on site audit. A new supplier will only be appointed if they align with our ‘Commercial by Nature’ approach.
Stakeholder engagement
Our team will work with you to engage with stakeholders, including your team, suppliers, customers to build trust, collaborate, inform and engage them in the plan to reach your supply chain sustainability goals.
Scope 3 considerations
At Commercial we have set an ambitious Net-Zero target for 2028 which includes reducing our Scope 3 emissions – as we navigate this process we can advise and collect and analysis your data, helping you set targets for improvement.

Our process

Planning for a more sustainable future

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Research and evaluate

We will take time to understand your business, your current ways of working and evaluate against your sustainability objectives.

2

Consult and recommend

We’ll consult with you and key stakeholders before making our recommendations on how to make your supply chain more sustainable.

3

Implement and manage

We will work in partnership with you to implement the plan and manage the entire process engaging with all key stakeholders to ensure everyone is onboard.

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Review and optimise

We are on hand to review and adjust throughout the whole process to ensure you meet your overarching sustainability goals.

Working in partnership towards a greener alternative

With EDF integral to Helping Britain Achieve Net Zero sustainability is top of their agenda. Their brief to  us included a number of key requirements:

Green alternatives to their most purchased products with evidence of categorisation

Using innovation to find alternatives to their most purchased non-sustainable items

Using alternatives to fossil fuel deliveries

Using carbon reporting for products purchased delivery methods and packaging

Demonstrating quantifiable social value being generated through a SROI calculator

We delivered the following solutions:

Demonstrating clear categorisation under the four Products with Purpose sections: recycled, social, ethical, and environmental
Demonstration of ‘green switch’ function on our e-commerce platform, Sprint

Showed how our deliveries to their Gloucester base would be carried out by hydrogen vans with intelligent reporting to consolidate deliveries

Implemented Power BI reporting to provide transparent management information for all purchased products, deliveries and packaging

Demonstrated clear SROI for our Products with Purpose range.

knowledge and support

Partners for progress

Robust and independent assessment of our actions and progress is crucial. Recognised accreditation frameworks provide impartial credibility, in addition to the knowledge and support that’s shared among like-minded but disparate organisations.

EcoVadis
Commercial is a Gold member of EcoVadis. We became a listed supplier of EcoVadis, the world’s largest and most trusted independent provider of business sustainability ratings, in 2016. In 2020 we became a customer too, using it’s sustainability ratings as a trusted source for assessing potential new suppliers.
ETI
Commercial is a full member of The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), a global alliance of companies, trade unions and NGOs, promoting respect for workers’ rights. We have worked with the ETI for more than a decade to implement best practise across our supply chain.
Sedex
Sedex helps buyers and suppliers to manage, assess, and report on sustainability performance and meet their supply chain goals. In addition to our own assessment and review, we use the Sedex Member’s Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA) to check suppliers are working in an ethical way.
Planet Mark
Commercial has held the Planet Mark sustainability certification since 2017. Planet Mark, ensures your carbon footprint is fully verified by the leading carbon reduction body. In order to retain the Planet Mark, we must reduce our carbon footprint year-on-year by a minimum of 2.5%, through savings in energy, waste, water, travel, and procurement.

Take the next step – click now for Commercial’s expert advice.

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The changing face of the supply chain

In 2019, we prevented 12.6 tonnes of plastic entering the environment, by encouraging our clients and partners to switch to single use plastic–free alternatives.

82% of our clients are already choosing Products with Purpose. We predict that every client will be actively purchasing from our  range by 2025.

Part of our commitment to being transparent, Commercial produce a Product Origin Map detailing the provenance of our own-brand Products with Purpose range.

Sales from our Products with Purpose paper from a sustainable forest in Finland has saved 268 tonnes of CO2e per year compared to standard paper.

We have earned an outstanding performancee, top 5% global ranking, evaluated by EcoVadis, the world’s leading business sustainability ratings agency.

Established in

1991

Don’t just take
our word for it…

Commercial deliver. We are fortunate to work with some amazing partners. Here are some examples of great things we hear every day.

The Tesco procurement team have been delighted with the way Commercial share our desire to entrench sustainability into our supply chain – we really are kindred spirits. Our ethical and sustainability policies are of paramount importance to our reputation and the Commercial team reviewed and approved all products in a short timeframe. Commercial are already committed to the ETI base code and are working on achieving EcoVadis accreditation for all suppliers on the Tesco account.
The new Walsall Housing Group office is a fantastic, fresh and modern workplace thanks to the wonderful work of the Commercial interiors team. They created a steering group to work alongside us to understand our demands and held regular meetings during the design process to keep us informed of the progress. Our desire was for a more collaborative space, with meeting booths and one-to-one seating, rather than traditional desks – and they delivered a fantastic final fit-out over the full four-floor building.
Each year, Commercial supplies accessory packs to graduate trainees at a leading accountancy firm, which are then picked, packed, and delivered to their home addresses by the Commercial Foundation. This not only guarantees that every new employee has the necessary equipment to be productive from their first day but also allows their IT team to focus on other responsibilities. Collaborating with the Commercial Foundation generates substantial social value returns on investment for the firm and contributes to improving the lives of the Foundation's volunteers.
Wollens have enjoyed a long-standing and fruitful partnership with Commercial because they are always introducing innovations and improvements to our IT environment. As the threat of cyber-attacks increases it was vital that we strengthened our capabilities for dealing with a ransomware attack with a cloud-based backup solution. Our solution means data cannot be altered or deleted, giving us a crucial way of recovering data to minimise any potential downtime and financial losses
Working with Commercial for our branded materials has proved to be effective and collaborative. The team is efficient and they listen to requests for improvements. Commercial has made branded goods simple.
As E-commerce in retail continues to grow, Commercial’s stock-management and fulfilment expertise has allowed a leading UK retailer to free huge amounts of warehouse space. Commercial took on the stocking of our employee uniform, transferring to a new supplier with the management of the supply being consolidated into their existing supply accounts. Not only did this free vital space in their distribution centre, the consolidated supply of all GNFR delivered significant delivery cost savings.
At JoJo Maman Bébé we are happy to work with the Commercial Foundation and support inspiring work they do to help disadvantaged young adults. Like us, the Foundation are a B Corp certified organisation that is proven to put purpose ahead of profits. We have enjoyed working with their volunteers to help with a mug-making activity. We are now working alongside them to create an introduction gift for our new employees, these include printed mugs, pens and notebooks.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’d love to talk to you about the benefits of Commercial’s supply chain management expertise and all our ESG consultancy services. Here’s some information to get you started:

What is an ESG Consultancy Service?

An ESG Consultancy Service is a specialised service that provides advice and guidance on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues related to supply chain management in the UK’s modern workplace. These services help organisations identify and address potential risks and opportunities in their supply chains, as well as develop strategies to improve sustainability and responsible sourcing of materials and services.

What are some of the services offered by an ESG Consultancy Service?

An ESG Consultancy Service typically offers a range of services, including ESG reporting and benchmarking, ESG policy development, ESG training and education, and ESG risk assessment and management. Additionally, services may include sustainability reporting and performance management, supplier management and auditing, impact assessments, and stakeholder engagement.

What are some of the key challenges that an ESG Consultancy Service can help organisations address in the UK’s modern workplace?

Some of the key challenges that an ESG Consultancy Service can help organisations address in the UK’s modern workplace include developing an effective sustainability strategy, improving supplier management and auditing, managing the impacts of their operations, and engaging stakeholders.

What should an organisation consider when selecting an ESG Consultancy Service?

When selecting an ESG Consultancy Service, organisations should consider the scope of services offered, the consultant’s qualifications and experience, their project management capabilities, and the cost of the service.

What are the key principles of ESG reporting?

The key principles of ESG reporting include accuracy, transparency, comparability, and consistency.

What are the benefits of using an ESG Consultancy Service?

The benefits of using an ESG Consultancy Service include greater transparency, improved profitability, and a better understanding of the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects of supply chain management. By working with an expert consultant, organisations can assess their current practices, identify potential risks and opportunities, and develop strategies to improve sustainability and responsible sourcing of materials and services.

How can an ESG Consultancy Service help an organisation with their supply chain in the UK’s modern workplace?

An ESG Consultancy Service can help an organisation with their supply chain in the UK’s modern workplace by providing advice and guidance on the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects of their supply chain. Through services such as ESG reporting, benchmarking, policy development, training and education, risk assessment, and management, the consultancy can help organisations identify risks and opportunities, develop strategies to improve sustainability and responsible sourcing, and comply with relevant regulations.

What qualifications should an ESG Consultant have?

An ESG Consultant should have a broad knowledge of ESG issues, experience in the relevant industry, and a professional qualification in environmental law, economics, or sustainability.

What is the typical process for working with an ESG Consultancy Service?

The typical process for working with an ESG Consultancy Service includes an initial discussion to define the scope of the project, development of an action plan, implementation of the agreed plan, and ongoing support and guidance.

What is the importance of ESG reporting in the UK’s modern workplace?

ESG reporting is important in the UK’s modern workplace as it provides an opportunity to demonstrate an organisation’s commitment to sustainability and responsible sourcing, as well as their progress in meeting their ESG targets. Additionally, it helps organisations identify potential risks and opportunities, and develop strategies to improve sustainability and responsible sourcing of materials and services.

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