Sustainability
Kevin Wragg, director environment and quality compliance at Tech Data, UK and Ireland speaks about Tech Data’s route to achieving net zero carbon.
What is Tech Data doing about Net Zero Carbon? Tech Data is working at a local, European and global level to become a net zero carbon (NZC) business. We are making significant investments, employing specialists to help us build and deliver a NZC strategy. Te whole environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topic is now a top priority for UK businesses.
What is Tech Data UK doing? Tech Data UK has appointed Kevin Wragg to be the UK lead for NZC. Kevin has worked for Tech Data for over 30 years and has a vast array of experience in sales, operations, and back office logistics. Kevin is working with our NZC consultants to calculate Tech Data UK’s carbon footprint and build a NZC plan.
Who is Tech Data UK working with on NZC? Tech Data has employed the services of Arete Net Zero Carbon, a consultancy firm led by Professor Stephen Finnegan of Liverpool University. We are using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and have just completed our Scopes 1,2, and 3.
What are your largest contributors to your carbon footprint? Aſter reviewing the data with Arete NZC, it is clear to us that over 45% of our carbon footprint comes from Scope 3 downstream transport and distribution. Tese are the emissions from our couriers who deliver product from our logistics centres to our reseller customers.
What is Tech Data UK doing to reduce this? Tech Data is now working with the big carriers to understand their strategy and how they plan to reduce their emissions. Tere are a number of ways they can do this, from using electric vehicles to switching from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG). We recently saw Amazon UK announce that it is using a number of battery-powered trucks. Tech Data will be working with its carriers to implement new ways of working. We will push them hard to improve their fleet and reduce the emissions they create. We are also working with them on “green” delivery options. Te sooner we can make the “last mile” emission-free at the point of delivery, the better. Additionally, we will be making plans and setting targets to reduce
www.pcr-online.biz
our carbon impact in areas that are within our direct control – such as energy consumption, staff commuting, and business travel.
So, if the carriers improve, does Tech Data see the improvement? Yes. When the carriers transition to a greener fleet, they will see this improvement within their own Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Tech Data will then see this benefit within its own Scope 3 emissions.
What else can be done to improve these emissions? Tech Data will work with reseller partners and optimise the way in which we deliver products to them. Tis will require a collaborative effort between Tech Data and its reseller partners, with both agreeing to embrace new ways of working relating to more efficient transport and distribution.
When will Tech Data UK become Net Zero Carbon? We will be making a number of announcements regarding this very soon. What I can say is that Tech Data is committed to NZC and TD SYNNEX has signed-up to SBTi (the Science Based Target initiative), the gold standard of Greenhouse gas reporting and auditing). SBTi drives ambitious climate action within the private sector by enabling organisations to set science-based emissions reduction targets.
What else is Tech Data UK doing with regards to sustainability? We already have a large mobile phone and IT recycling business within Tech Data. Last year we recycled, refurbished and resold 351,699 phones – that means 33 tonnes of ferrous materials avoided landfill. We’re also taking notebooks, PCs, servers and infrastructure equipment for recycling or refurbishment. Later this year we will roll out ISO 14001, which is the international standard for environmental management systems (EMS). In addition, we are seeing some great initiatives from the likes of HPE and Dell, to take back old enterprise product, refurbish it and offer it to customers at a reduced price. Te whole circular economy piece will prove essential for many businesses as they attempt to reduce their emissions, prevent old product going to landfill, and meet their own corporate sustainability goals and targets.
May 2022 | 21
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
