4 minute read
Insight
How the SWA is actively helping wholesalers move to a sustainable future
Paul Hill
In recent years, the Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) has been one of the most proactive organisations within the industry when it comes to sustainability.
Recently, in collaboration with sustainability specialists The
Algorithm People and Auditel, it acted to help Scottish wholesalers move to a more environmentally sustainable future through the reduction of emissions.
Both organisations have become affiliate members of the
SWA and recently participated in a special webinar aimed at helping members – wholesalers and suppliers – not only to cut costs across their business operations, but also to reduce and calculate their carbon emissions.
Based in Newcastle upon
Tyne, The Algorithm People is a company specialising in route optimisation, fleet scheduling and electric vehicle optimisation solutions.
It is offering SWA members access to its award-winning My Transport Planner (MTP) optimisation platform, with selected members also getting free access to trial and showcase the power of MTP.
Under the new partnership with SWA, all members will benefit from discounted fees to access the MTP fleet optimisation platform – which uses computer algorithms to route and schedule vehicle deliveries and collections, maximising operational efficiency.
The software maximises operational efficiency, with the company’s clients typically reporting improved productivity, reduced fuel cost and lower emissions of 20%.
Members attending the webinar had the opportunity to explore the benefits of routing and scheduling optimisation as well as receive instruction on accessing MTP.
Colin Smith, SWA chief executive, said: “Our association is committed to supporting our members on their journey to a more environmentally sustainable future, so we are delighted to be collaborating with The Algorithm People, giving our membership the opportunity to access the range of optimisation tools, which will help them to reduce cost, fuel and CO2.”
Meanwhile, leading carbon and cost management company Auditel, based in Hampshire, is working with SWA members to help them achieve sustainable change on their carbon- and cost-reduction journey.
Supported by more than 100 procurement and carbon specialists from a broad range of professions and industries, Auditel offers extensive knowledge and expertise in procurement and carbon management.
Smith said: “Auditel is already working with SWA members, and during the webinar they demonstrated success stories on how they have helped organisations to cut carbon, save costs and driver greater efficiencies across several areas of their business.
“The aim of the webinar was to help members not just to navigate their journey towards net zero, but to fund it through our cost savings and procure-
ment solutions from within the business.”
Taskforce Earlier this year, the SWA was invited to join Scotland’s new Zero Emission Truck Taskforce in recognition of its ongoing work with members as part of its ‘Decarbonisation of the Wholesale Industry’ project, and it also made a key appointment with the recruitment of Ylva Haglund as its new head of sustainability and engagement.
Haglund joins from Zero Waste Scotland, where she was campaigns manager leading on consumer food waste prevention behaviour change projects as well as the Love Food Hate Waste campaign in Scotland. Her previous roles include awareness-raising and implementation of policy at environmental charities Keep Scotland Beautiful and Scottish Environment Link. In addition, she is a member of the European Commission expert group on food waste.
Her wide-ranging role at the SWA will focus on helping members share knowledge and resources to understand and overcome the challenges on the road to net zero, and in doing so create a greener, more sustainable local food and drink supply chain.
Working with government, stakeholder groups and colleagues at the FWD, she will lead on the wholesale sector’s decarbonisation and net-zero strategy, incorporating Phase 2 (buildings and energy use) and Phase 3 (people and travel) of the SWA’s ongoing ‘Decarbonisation of the Wholesale Industry’ project.
She will also help deliver a communications strategy to improve member engagement and investment return, both around sustainability and within the wider context of the SWA.
Smith said: “This is a key role for us and confirmation of our commitment to our members and sector in exploring opportunities and finding solutions to make our industry cleaner and greener. Ylva joins us after we were invited by the Scottish government to sit on the new Zero Emission Truck Taskforce, so her appointment coincides with many of our members starting to have conversations about how they can transition to zero-emission trucks.
“Ylva has an impressive track record and is well placed to help our members on their journey to incorporate a just transition to new technologies as they decarbonise their businesses and meet environmental and sustainability targets. She will also develop relevant training programmes and advise members on key certification, via the SWA Training Academy. “As a member of the independent judging panel for the SWA Achievers Awards 2022, Ylva has already met many of our members and is
looking forward to getting out and about to meet more in the coming months.”
Commenting on her appointment, Haglund said: “The prospect of joining such a forward-thinking trade association and leading on sustainability and environmental issues affecting the Scottish and wider UK wholesale industry is hugely exciting for me. I will use my experience to help our wholesalers achieve their ambitions as we accelerate the transition to net zero and progress towards a circular economy.
“The SWA is highly regarded by the Scottish government and other stakeholders, and has forged excellent relationships with politicians and stakeholders, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, when Colin and his team were instrumental in securing industry funding via the Scottish Food and Drink Wholesale Resilience Fund.
“I’m looking forward to meeting members and working with them as we move on from the pandemic and make plans for the future.” l
