Eth cal Vending thici al Vending


ETHICAL VENDING The benefits of ethical business


The ethics of a business refers to all aspects of its professional conduct from the way it treats its employees and customers to its production processes and the sourcing of its materials


, of resources. W


A continuing concern for vending operators is the recycling of disposable cups, which disposable packaging supplier 4 Aces identifies as vending’s ‘biggest moral and ethical challenge’. “Our role as supplier limits us to how much we can actually do but that by no means gives us a ‘get out of jail’ card,” said managing director Chris Penn. “We’re frequently asked about the supply of biodegradable and compostable products.” Unfortunately, these products come with an increase in cost and a decrease in shelf life, and whilst customers are interested enough to make the initial enquiry, they do not necessarily want to pay the much higher costs attached to purchasing these cups. Chris continued: “The aim for us, moving forward, is to find a compromise that suits the customer and is an improvement to the environment. We will always look for ways to provide our customers with the choice of increasingly greener options and we will continue to talk to manufacturers about these issues. At the moment, though, it comes down to choice and it’s not our choice to make. It’s the vending operator and the café owner who are at the sharp e When making ethical choices comes with a price t


ag, it can be nd.”


difficult for small to medium and start-up operating companies businesses to choose the moral option – especially when the high street chains are not. It becomes yet another area in which corporations are able to undercut r,


independents. How ever, with the consumer placing increasing s sustainability, this c difference, allowing stand out. Rob Cam


think tank and strategic advisory firm SustainAbility, said : “The delivery of


eron, chief executive of vending operators to ould be a point of ignificance upon


hilst general ethical principles apply to vending operating companies just like any other business, certain ethical issues are particularly relevant to vending. Sustainability is one of these, and encompasses both the sourcing and disposing


sustainability is not yet in the mainstream. We have only a limited number of poster-child companies. For the majority of other businesses, while they have great people, sustainability has yet to touch their day-to-day activities and operations.” SustainAbility’s 2016 trend report from advised that: “Increasing awareness and concern about this confluence of issues is putting further pressure on companies and global capitalism as a whole to respond.” Working in partnership with a charity can give a company a n avenue in its own right through which it can highlight its ethical credentials, as well as giving it some human interest news to communicate to their customers. Bottled water brand Thirsty Planet, for example, which was launched by Harrogate Water Brands in 2007, has raised more than £1.8 million for Pum in providing clean, safe drinking water for


communities in rural Africa. p Aid, a charity specialising


James Cain, managing director of Harrogate Water brands, was made an OBE in 2015 for his work with Thirsty Planet and Pump Aid. He said: “We partnered with Pump Aid because they are the best at what they do and our sole purpose is to raise money towards water projects in the most disadvantaged parts of Africa. Our success in raising so much for Pump Aid is a tribute to each and every one of our colleagues at Harrogate, our customers, our suppliers and everybody that’s believed in us and the products.”


benefits t As well


as being the morally correct choice, acting responsibly he reputation of a business. In vending, it gives operators a major selling point and advantage over global high street chains which often make headlines for unscrupulous practice.


Businesses are increasingly judged not only on their ability to deliver goods an d


services, but also on the manner of delivery and how they impact on society and the environment –a commitment to ethical behaviour demonstrates to customers and consumers that your business is one worth spending their money with.


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