Working with suppliers
Corporate responsibility forms part of our supplier selection and management framework. For information on how we manage our relationships with suppliers view our environmental policy page.
Supply chain
We have been working with a number of other financial institutions through the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply to produce a number of tools, including a corporate responsibility procurement questionnaire that will be used by a number of other financial institutions in their tendering procedures. The group is also working towards a joint database of supplier information to capture data collected. In addition a number of Sustainable Sourcing Guides have been produced to accompany these tools, and these are being used across the business.
Print and paper
Friends Provident has worked closely with Williams Lea, our print and paper supplier, to improve environmental performance in this area. Our work has been featured in a case study by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) 'Recycling comes to life and pensions' (external link, opens new window).
Williams Lea’s Environmental Manager Paul Buchan explains:
“For large service sector organisations who need to send printed communications to millions of customers these impacts can make up a significant element of the company’s overall environmental footprint. In addition, the fact that most of this footprint occurs along the supply chain means there can be considerable challenges in effecting positive environmental change.
Friends Provident began the process by asking Williams Lea to looking at the options for using recycled content papers for all marketing print. Williams Lea identified a range of suitable alternative products and facilitated trials in print presses, finishing and mailing equipment to ensure these were fit for purpose. Following the successful conclusion of the tests including an assessment of their fit with brand guidelines the requirement to use these papers was rolled into the business. In 2008 a majority of the paper used within Friends Provident marketing print, excluding envelopes, had a high recycled content.
At the printing stage all the marketing materials are produced by Williams Lea’s preferred printers. In order to ensure high environmental governance standards, all are required to achieve the international environmental management standard ISO 14001. As of December 2007 nine of the ten companies serving Friends Provident had achieved certification. Williams Lea also partnered with the UK Government’s Envirowise programme to promote environmental good practice to its suppliers.
Taken together we believe these initiatives deliver a more environmentally focused customer communication solution to Friends Provident and demonstrates how in partnership with suppliers, Corporate Responsibility commitments can be turned into actions.”