Collaborating on carbon management
PIUK is one of 12 founder members of the Carbon Disclosure Project's Supply Chain Leadership Collaboration (SCLC). This aims to dramatically increase the number of its members' suppliers (to thousands) reporting on climate change mitigation efforts and adaptation strategies. The project trials data-sharing systems and builds participants' capability to respond to the climate change challenge, whilst making it easier by employing a common questionnaire (and reporting standards) to remove suppliers' need to respond to different customers' individual requests.
Our membership demonstrates to our suppliers how important we feel climate change is to business decision-making, along with our desire to work collaboratively. Through our membership we can also explore possible links between corporate level disclosure and product carbon footprinting information provision, to support our carbon reduction label work. PIUK has selected 30 suppliers to take part, focusing on those with whom we can collaborate to develop significant supply chain carbon footprint reduction strategies.
Investing in research - sustainable farming and agriculture
We are investing in a number of research projects by leading experts on sustainable farming and agriculture. We commissioned a Life-Cycle Assessment of potato and oat agricultural practices, and an energy audit on potato stores for Walkers. The audit will assess different types of stores (e.g. box, bulk, old and new) to identify where CO2e savings can be made. We have commissioned an assessment of the climate change risks and opportunities for European oats production, to be carried out by the University of Bath. We are looking at how to reduce soil erosion from potato farming, and what varieties of potato would consume less water whilst growing.
Quaker was a founder member of Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF), which helps farmers make a positive environmental contribution by improving their growing and harvesting practices, and their use of water and fertiliser. In 2008 we will work to develop our capacity building with farmers and growers, and improve our training and support for our agricultural supply base.
