Academics from the University of Hull are working with kitchen manufacturer Wren Kitchens to accelerate their journey to net zero.
The partnership will see academics from Hull University Business School use a unique supply chain carbon mapping tool, developed at the University, to help the company become more sustainable.
It will also allow customers to make choices based on the carbon footprint of each kitchen item, at point of sale, offering them the chance to make more sustainable choices.
Wren Kitchens and the University of Hull have secured a Knowledge Transfer Partnership from Innovate UK, to fund the two-year project. The KTP will facilitate accelerated access to this specialist expertise and knowledge within Hull University Business School.
It will also enable Wren Kitchens to fully embed environmental sustainability knowledge, know-how and innovation from the University, right across their business. This will provide the foundations for an in-house sustainability team, facilitating access to new emergent eco-conscious markets globally.
Lee Holmes, Logistics Director at Wren Kitchens, said: “We believe this will be an industry first and the catalyst for others in the Humber Region to take a holistic approach to their impact on society. We hope this project will deliver thought leadership to the manufacturing sector by being future-focussed beyond the ISO regulations, and take a leading role in the region to establish and develop a circular economy.
“The ultimate aim is to fully embed environmental sustainability into the company beyond the project end and offer our customers a footprint calculation output into user friendly on-pack claims in the online sales ordering process for customer awareness and enhanced informed choice.”
Dr Sarah Shaw, Reader in Logistics & Supply Chain Management at the University, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Wren Kitchens on this exciting, innovative research project. The KTP will enable Wren Kitchens to have capacity and capability to baseline their supply chain carbon footprint and make this data available to customers and to drive carbon inset improvement decisions.”
In order to ensure sustainability remains at the heart of the company, two senior members of staff will study PhDs on the theme of sustainability, further demonstrating the company’s commitment to being a forward thinking and research driven business that wants to embrace cutting edge research and knowledge.
