Responsible business sometimes referred to as Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR is at the core of Futures Supplies’ business programmes and strategies, not just a bolt on to its operations.

The company’s submission ‘Focusing on the Future’ incorporates a commitment to the community, charity, the environment and diverse initiatives, encompassing supporting disadvantaged young people and programmes to improve its positive impact in society, not just minimise its negative impact.

Now in their eleventh year, the Awards for Excellence are run by Business in the Community, a unique movement of over 800 companies, representing one in five of the country’s private-sector workforce.

The BITC awards are the most prestigious Corporate Social Responsibility awards in the UK and are rigorously assessed and widely recognised as a powerful benchmark of good corporate practice.

Start by selecting a category that gives an opportunity to illustrate the passion in your business. It could be customer services, green issues or your involvement in local community activities.

Focus on your strengths and read the brief – answer the questions you have been asked. Keep it unpretentious, individual and provide facts and figures to substantiate your claims.

Judging varies enormously and once entries have been short-listed expect a site visit or to present to a panel of judges – in my opinion, an opportunity to breathe life into the entry. This I can assure you is not nearly as nerve-racking as the moments before the winners are announced at the often-grandiose ceremonies, which conclude the process.

Immensely rewarding, the process gives an opportunity to review and analyse the business. The recognition is an endorsement, a sanction – a bucket of approval providing a warm and glowing pride for your whole team’s contribution to an award winning business.

For more information on Futures Supplies’ award successes go to www.futures-supplies.co.uk/awards.asp

Mandie Kemp
Managing Director

As a company accredited to BS EN IS0 14001 that takes environmental sustainability seriously, we can offer a full range of products that can help you reduce your environmental impact and assist with infection control. These are available on Futures Supplies’ website www.futures-supplies.co.uk or you can call the office where someone will be happy to help you.

Developing and producing efficient cleaning products in the world’s first ecological factory, Ecover is the leader in the ecological cleaning sector in over 20 countries worldwide.

The range of products, all of which have recyclable packaging have been developed to minimise pollution and environmental impact and are based on plant and mineral ingredients from nature. Unlike many petrochemicals based products, they do not contain toxic, allergenic, mutagenic or carcinogenic ingredients, which make them safer for cleaning staff, office staff, customers and the environment.

Biosac™ offers an alternative to a ‘normal’ petrochemical based polymer sack. Normal plastics will eventually disintegrate, but this process takes decades.

Degradable plastics are manufactured to accelerate the decomposition of the product where it is mineralised into its basic component element of water, carbon dioxide and biomass – inert mineral compounds.

As well as Biosac™, Futures Supplies can provide a full range of recycled sacks.

If you are using Jumbo Toilet Tissue, Mini Jumbo and Conventional Toilet Tissue, a switch to a Bulk Pack will provide a system that dispenses one sheet at a time that can also be topped up.

This would prevent the need for the disposal of ‘end rolls’, control pilferage and reduce overall usage, resulting in cost savings and environmental benefits.

Bulk Pack is self-presenting, helping to prevent cross contamination and controlling usage. As a ‘top up system’ it never need run out, unlike conventional or jumbo toilet rolls where a decision has to be made to dispose of an end roll or leave spares in the washroom, which often end up on the floor or have to be thrown away.

C-fold hand towels present closed, have to be opened before use and often come out of the dispenser in ‘clumps’.

Switching to interleaved type towels, sometimes known as an S-fold, Z-fold or interfold hand towels provide a system delivering individually dispensed, open and self-presenting hand towels that are ready for use.

Self-presenting hand towels help prevent cross contamination and control usage, resulting in cost savings and environmental benefits.

"I was the first person at Futures Supplies to be given the opportunity to cycle to work on a pool bike. I was enthusiastic from the start because I was given a budget and could buy a bike that I wanted, along with the all-important ‘kit’ including a helmet. As well as helping the environment, it gave me a sense of freedom and has had a huge impact on my general health and well-being.

I started to cycle to work back in 2004 – as we have flexible working time I can get up and come to work as early as I like. I don’t have to worry about the times of public transport or the expense and environmental impact of a car, just occasionally the weather, but the benefits far outweigh those wet blustery days.

I prefer to get in early and leave early avoiding rush hour. This way I benefit from tranquillity in the morning when the phones are quiet – I can catch up on paperwork and prepare for the day.

I have benefited from cycle training as it can be quite precarious on the roads but my journey is only about 6 miles and I have the facility of a shower when I arrive along with a locker to keep all my kit in.  I like to think I am doing my bit and I find that rewarding in
itself!"

As well as providing pool bikes, the company also runs two Toyota T-Spirit Prius 1.5VVTI Hybrids in its fleet and a pioneering electric van. The Prius’ offer an intelligent combination of an electric motor and petrol engine, outstanding fuel efficiency and reductions in CO2 emissions. The van is a zero emissions alternative to diesel vehicles, emitting zero exhaust pollution, zero noise pollution and is run on electricity provided from 100% renewable sources, meaning the vehicle leaves no carbon footprint.

For more information or help with a travel plan go to www.futures-supplies.co.uk/awards.asp  or www.seltrans.co.uk  

Whilst our ‘Green Award’ may not quite be the Oscars, we hope they will provide recognition for the unsung green heroes and provide well deserved recognition for their efforts, which may otherwise go unnoticed.

One such group of heroes well known locally for their commitment to the environment is Envibe. Launched in 2004, it still remains a distinctive support programme in London, an example and the envy of businesses outside Croydon.

Envibe, co-ordinated by Croydon Council and government financed, works with businesses to help them make positive improvements to their environmental performance. Since its launch, it has worked with over 650 businesses and other like-minded organisations helping them identify ways of improving environmental impact resulting in financial savings, enhancing credibility and motivating staff.

Nominated by Marc Kemp, Futures Supplies’ Financial Controller, Anna and Debbie have worked tirelessly and with enthusiasm assisting with environmental projects for companies of all sizes.

We are delighted to receive this award and recognition from Futures – usually Envibe is the one giving the awards so this is something different for us.

It is also a privilege to accept this from one of the first businesses we worked with and have journeyed with to their current level of such a high standard of environmental business responsibility.”

If you would like to nominate anyone for a Futures Supplies’ ‘Green Award’ please email Mandie Kemp at info@futures-supplies.co.uk

More details on Envibe and how they can help you can be found by contacting Debbie Clement on 020 8760 5536 or visit www.envibe.co.uk