Funded by the DfE, Climate Ambassadors match volunteer climate experts with education settings.
Part of Let’s Go Zero, Climate Action Advisors are independent experts who offer free support for schools, colleges, and nurseries across England.
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Identify your key suppliers and gather information about their sustainability credentials and approach to reducing their environmental impact.
‘Auditing’ does not need to be a complicated exercise. You can review information already available, such as what can often be on suppliers' websites, in their sustainability or environmental policies, annual reports and published carbon reduction plans.
Who your key suppliers are will depend on the size and type of your setting. There is no single definition of a ‘key supplier’. You could prioritise suppliers based on:
- Spend: suppliers you spend the most money with.
- Relationship: suppliers your setting has a significant or long-term relationship.
- Strategic importance: suppliers that provide an important product or service, even if spend with them is relatively low.
- Environmental impact: suppliers or categories that involve energy, catering, estates, ICT.
You can also speak to colleagues in finance, procurement or operational teams to help identify your priorities.
Why
Understanding the sustainability of your supply chain is an important first step in reducing its environmental impact, helping you identify strengths and decide whether to work with existing suppliers, consider more sustainable alternatives, or reduce spend and consumption.
How
A staff member that has access to financial or procurement data may be best placed to lead this work. They should involve your Sustainability Lead and other relevant colleagues.
For larger settings, colleges, trusts and groups, you may need to work with central finance or procurement teams to identify key suppliers and access the relevant data.
Once you’ve established who your key suppliers are, start gathering information about their sustainability commitments and performance. You can begin by reviewing their websites, environmental policies, sustainability reports any relevant certifications.
A short, consistent set of questions can help fill any gaps and make it easier to compare suppliers.
- Do you have a sustainability strategy or carbon reduction plan?
- When was it established and when is it expected to achieve its targets?
- Do they hold any relevant environmental credentials or certifications, such as ISO 14001, B Corp or equivalent?
- Do they measure your greenhouse gas emissions through a carbon footprint? If so, does this cover Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions?
- What are they doing to reduce your emissions, particularly those associated with the products or services you provide to your setting?
You could also ask how they can help your setting achieve its own sustainability goals.
For larger or higher-impact contracts, consider making sustainability a standing agenda item at review meetings and agreeing practical improvement actions with your supplier.
The aim is to encourage constructive conversations, understand current performance and identify opportunities to work together to reduce environmental impact.
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