Priory Direct, a leading sustainable packaging supplier, is developing the first science-based tool for fashion retailers to calculate the waste and environmental impact of their packaging and supply chain, with backing from a national innovation scheme and academic institution.
The firm, which supplies more than 21,000 businesses, two thirds of which are retailers, is developing a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Impact Assessment approach that is much broader than traditional assessments. It will enable businesses to fully understand the CO2 footprint and environmental impact of packaging choices and supply chain configurations within the fashion and retail sector, allowing them to make science-based decisions to reduce packaging emissions and wasted materials.
The fashion industry contributes to around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions due to energy intensive production and long supply chains including packaging, particularly as the ecommerce sector continues to grow. As retailers respond to the rise of the conscious consumer and strive to achieve net zero emissions, accurately measuring the impact of their supply chain remains challenging as many suppliers are unable to provide product and operational transparency.
Priory Direct’s project aims to support the industry’s net zero journey and has been created through an Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) scheme, coordinated and part funded by Innovate UK and in collaboration with academic expertise from the University of Kent, including a PhD Chemist.
Josh Pitman, Managing Director of Priory Direct, which is based in Kent, explains: “There is a global urgency for retailers to work towards net zero, both for the greater good and the bottom line, as consumers increasingly take environmental credentials into consideration in their buying choices. What is missing is the data and transparency in supply chains to enable businesses to significantly reduce their impact beyond the real or virtual shop floor.
“The model we’re developing is widening the lens so that we are not just limited to the simplistic parameters of most Life Cycle Assessments, which only look at greenhouse gas emissions. There are many other factors to consider, and sometimes higher emissions can in fact be better for the environment overall, when considered as part of the wider picture.
“Our model will incorporate these other factors, such as microplastic generation, acidification, eutrophication and many other parameters, to empower retailers to have packaging data at their fingertips that is compliant with Extended Producer Responsibility requirements and to an ISO approved standard. Once developed for fashion retailers, the project aims to create a tool for the wider market that can be adopted by other businesses.”
The project is developing a carbon calculation that adheres to standards set by ISO 14040, ISO 14044, EN 15804, and the LCA handbook of the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD), ensuring meaningful and future-proof results, all of which promote the need for a circular economy.
AKTs bring together an academic or ‘knowledge base’ partner and business to collaborate and deliver an innovation project or concept that has the potential to make a significant impact on the business. Approved projects receive funding from UKRI through Innovate UK, and for Accelerated schemes, these must be for short-term projects, up to a maximum of four months.
Clare Witcher, Senior Knowledge Transfer Partnership Officer at the University of Kent, says: “For SME businesses, having innovative ideas is not enough, they need the specific expertise to bring their ideas to reality. We have supported a number of Kent businesses on some very exciting long and short-term projects and are delighted to be working with Priory Direct and giving them access to our wealth of academic knowledge, technology and skills for this Accelerated Knowledge Transfer project.”
Pitman adds: “We’re working closely with the University of Kent to leverage the institution’s expertise in data analytics and environmental science. We are employing a PhD chemist full time throughout the four-month project, with support from Dr Rob Barker, a senior lecturer in Chemistry and Forensic Science.
“The university is providing the much-needed expertise to create a richly-sourced calculation that minimises assumptions, thereby offering complete transparency, efficiency, and Green Claims Code compliance. Combining the university’s expertise and our industry knowledge and data set, this framework will become instrumental in advising our clients on the most environmentally friendly approach to their packaging and supply chain, but also has potential for an industry-wide impact.”
Priory Direct is also collaborating with the University of Kent on a separate Knowledge Transfer Project to develop an AI-powered forecasting model using Machine Learning to enable more efficient planning, manufacture, and movement of packaging stock. This ongoing project received £265,000 funding from Innovate UK.
More information is available here.