Time for action on carbon emissions

"The World Wildlife Fund has hit it bang on the nose.   Information technology is the answer to reducing global carbon emissions - and the sooner companies harness the power of the technology that's already in place, the sooner everyone benefits".

That's the view of Ewan French, Chief Operating Officer of supply-chain solutions leader Barloworld Optimus responding to the international launch of the concern's vision statement to 2050.

Applauding the WWF's warning that the planet is 'running a fever' and that conservationists are keen to work with others 'to cool it' before the situation reaches the point of no return, he echoed the group's view that the world has never been more aware of climate change or the urgent need to slow its advance.

 "The WWF pitched it just right when two of their key figures, Head of  European Climate Change Programme  Dr Stephan Singer and  International Director-General James Leape, stated that the key question for leaders and governments everywhere is how to rein-in dangerously high levels of carbon dioxide emissions without stunting development and reducing living standards.

 "The fact is that all the necessary technological and economic tools needed to reduce carbon emissions while reducing operating and inventory costs are already available.  Not only that, but they're also making a significant impact for hundreds of firms - a move that's clearly not been lost on the World Wildlife Fund."

According to Ewan French - who made a hard-hitting presentation to more than 200 key retailers, FMCG manufacturers, food producers and industry leaders at last week's Carbon Footprint Summit in London - consumers the world over  increasingly  respond to statements from global conservationists such as the WWF with the result that  the 'green' message is now a powerful marketing tool.

  "The environment is good business and companies are beginning to realise the commercial opportunities it offers.  A recent survey of 150 companies has indicated that virtually half - 49% - of those actively taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint cite 'good business' as the prime mover behind the decision" he said.

"When this can also be combined with clearly-measurable reductions in costs and improvements in service levels via technology that's already in place, the clear indication is that  supply chains are coming increasingly under the microscope as new technology offers the means to make dramatic improvements all-round".

Viewed as a worldwide market leader in optimizing supply chains at  global, regional or national level, Birmingham-based Barloworld Optimus is already providing  the technology  for organisations to reduce carbon emissions by significant margins, and a  recent project for a major US-based global manufacturer operating in Europe resulted in a  switch from road transport to sea transport, delivering not only a 28% reduction in carbon emissions but also supply chain costs being slashed by 9%.

"These are the kind of results that are clearly achievable through existing technology.  As last week's warning from the WWF makes clear, the cost of doing nothing about carbon emissions is far higher than the cost of cleaning up our economies, and the consequences of not acting will impact on all our futures. 

"The supply chain is an important area where companies can reduce their carbon footprint and the message is unequivocal:  the time for talking about it is past.
"It's time for action - to the benefit of all" he said this week.