ClearStream Solutions

Brian O’Kennedy of Clearstream Solutions explains how Microsoft’s innovative approach to measuring the impact of their packaging delivered success at the recent 2011 Green Awards.

Environmental groups often criticise companies for making unfounded claims about the environmental performance of their products. This can give the public the impression that a significant element of green claims are in fact ‘greenwash’ and not to be trusted, often devaluing real progress. Organisations need to provide proper externally verified data and metrics to back up their green credentials.

Clearstream Solutions were therefore delighted when approached by Microsoft’s European Supply Chain operations team to carry out an assessment on three new types of packaging they were launching and to quantify the supply chain improvements of the new packaging designs. Clearstream measured the Carbon impact of the materials, the transport and the process & then compared these results to the previous packaging versions of the same products. In addition, we reviewed the volumetrics and the product-to-packaging ratios of the three products. Finally, the recyclability and recycled content of the packaging was assessed.

Clearstream Solutions were then able to inform Microsoft as to the relative performance of each of the packaging types, and the impact of moving to these formats. As well as the detailed carbon impacts, the results were also presented in terms of the reduction in the number of containers shipped, the reduction in materials used, trees saved, carbon emitted and waste to landfill. We were also able to assess the real life cycle impact of these forms of packaging by considering all aspects from design to end of life. Microsoft has built on the result of these assessments to drive further improvement. Working with its supply chain partners, Microsoft is actively pursuing opportunities to take carbon and cost out of its supply chain.

John Coyle, Supply Chain Development Manager commented:

“Microsoft sees environmental considerations as a key issue across all our operational and supply chain processes. Therefore, it is very important and useful for the business to measure the environmental impact of our packaging. We can use these results to work with partners to reduce both the cost and environmental impact of our supply chain. To have won the Green Supply Chain Award, which recognises our genuine efforts in this area was a fantastic achievement for all concerned considering the huge amount of work the team have done. ”

Clearstream Solutions has carried out packaging assessments for a number of global supply chain brands in the IT, FMCG, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare sectors. We see an increasing interest from our customers in measuring the impact of their supply chains on the environment.

Congratulations once again to Microsoft for their hard work and a well deserved ‘Green Supply Chain’ award!!

The secret…measure, improve and measure again.

Elizabeth Nagle from EPA presenting the Greenest Supply Chain of the year to Noel Moore and John Coyle from Microsoft.