Reducing carbon emissions doesn't just help organisations meet net zero targets, it can also cut costs. New analysis by Abri suggests that improving efficiency by just 1% across its supply chain could unlock around £250 million in savings for businesses within that supply chain while reducing emissions by approximately 270,000 tonnes of CO₂.
The analysis was presented at Abri’s Sustainability Supply Chain Summit, hosted in partnership with the University of Southampton. The event brought together suppliers from across Abri’s supply chain, including Travis Perkins and City Plumbing, to collaborate on how they can reduce carbon emissions.
More than 90% of Abri's carbon footprint comes from Scope 3 emissions, which include its supply chain, making this a key focus in the organisation's ambition to reach net zero by 2050. Drawing on analysis by sustainability consultant Altair, Abri showed how emissions from purchased goods and services contribute to its overall carbon footprint and highlighted the areas with the greatest potential for reduction. Suppliers were then given tailored insights by consultant CO2 Analysis ¹ into the emissions associated with the goods and services they provide to Abri, helping them identify opportunities to reduce both carbon emissions and costs.
The £250 million saving and 270,000-tonne reduction are calculated by applying a 1% efficiency improvement to those identified hotspots across Abri’s entire supply chain. Examples of potential improvements include reducing waste, using electric vehicles for transport and adopting low carbon materials.
While the £250 million estimate is specific to Abri's supply chain, the analysis highlights a wider opportunity for the housing sector. As with Abri, supply chain activity typically accounts for a significant proportion of a housing association's carbon footprint, suggesting that collaborative, data-led approaches could help organisations reduce emissions while improving efficiency.
Ben Earl, Head of Sustainability at Abri said:
“It’s been so valuable to bring our suppliers together again and continue the conversation on how we reduce carbon emissions across our supply chain. What the analysis from the event makes clear is that even relatively small improvements in efficiency across our supply chain can have a significant impact, reducing both emissions and costs. That's why working closely with suppliers and sharing data is so important. This is an approach that has relevance not just for Abri, but for the wider housing sector as it looks to cut emissions.”
Jack Brayshaw, Director of Research and Innovation at Vistry, who gave a keynote at the summit on integrating sustainability into house building and the supply chain, said:
“It was a pleasure to share insights from Vistry’s carbon reduction journey with our key partner Abri, alongside our shared supply chain. Delivering meaningful impact requires close collaboration, and the event clearly demonstrated this is achievable. At Vistry, we have a real opportunity to drive significant reductions in emissions and minimise our environmental impact. We look forward to continuing this journey in close partnership with Abri.”
Professor Jeni Giambona, Associate Dean of Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise at The University of Southampton Business School said:
“We’re pleased to continue working with Abri in bringing their supply chain together to tackle some of the biggest sustainability challenges facing the sector. Organisations often know that supply chain emissions are their biggest challenge, but many struggle with how to measure them accurately and turn that insight into action. By hosting events like this, we can facilitate dialogue, and help organisations understand where emissions and inefficiencies sit. Combined with the sustainability reporting help and other tools the business school can provide, this offers a practical route to taking meaningful action on carbon reduction. I would also like to thank Richard Cartwright, Principal Enterprise Fellow at the business school, for championing this initiative.”
¹ CO2 Analysis uses AI to classify and analyse large volumes of procurement data, attributing a carbon footprint to individual products and services rather than broad spending categories. This product level detail allows suppliers to see precisely which goods and services in their purchasing are driving emissions and target those areas for reduction. It reflects a pattern CO2 Analysis sees across its client base: organisations that address the carbon footprint of their purchased goods and services consistently uncover savings alongside emissions reductions.