Our distribution networks keep us close to our local markets and ensure our solutions are practical and sustainable.
Saint-Gobain’s businesses in the UK and Ireland form a robust and integrated supply chain with the flexibility to deliver the right products at the right time to the right place. From high volume deliveries on a ‘just-in-time’ basis to deliveries timed to specific slots, we have improved the efficiency of our supply chains to reduce our environmental footprint by implementing a number of key measures, such as the utilisation of local branches as holding yards for materials required on large scale projects.
We are also active in the reduction of transportation mileage by optimising delivery and load configurations to limit journeys, as well as using other forms of transportation methods such as rail and the waterways. For example, in Kirkby Thore in Cumbria, British Gypsum has helped secure the future of the Settle to Carlisle railway line. Working in consultation with Direct Rail Services and W H Malcolm Ltd, British Gypsum operates with 24 rail-adapted containers per day.
By using trains instead of lorries to transport our product we are saving 48 lorry movements to or from the site each day. This reduction has lowered our carbon footprint by 80% per load – a massive saving of 13000 lorry movements a year and 1.5 million road miles. This way of transporting our products is being carried out on a cost neutral basis due to the benefits to all our stakeholders.
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