Sustaining the next generation
Sustainability is a major driver behind buying decisions in many educational establishments today, which means resellers need to be alive to the opportunities this presents.
Climate change issues are a major concern for children and young people, and a 2021 survey by charity Global Action Plan found that 91% wanted their schools to do more to engage them on these issues.
Schools are responding this, and this includes making efforts to use products that are more environmentally sustainable.
Danielle Baron, education and wellbeing entrepreneur, says that students, parents and educational institutions have experienced a significant surge in their consciousness regarding the environment. “People are becoming more mindful of the environmental consequences of their choices and are actively seeking sustainable alternatives to reduce their impact on the ecosystem,” she says. “This growing awareness is generating a demand for sustainable products within the education sector.”
There is a wide range of sustainable products to choose from. “Educational institutions can choose energy-efficient computers, printers, lighting fixtures, heating and cooling systems and other appliances,” she says.
“They can opt for stationery items made from recycled materials, such as paper, pens, pencils and notebooks. Additionally, choosing products labelled as ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘sustainable’ ensures they meet specific environmental standards.
“Digital resources and online platforms can reduce the consumption of paper and printed materials. Educational institutions can promote e-books, online learning platforms and virtual resources as sustainable alternatives to traditional textbooks and printed materials.”
Making the difference
Steve Pearce, head of marketing, Kyocera Document Solutions UK, adds that a strong commitment to sustainability can be a differentiator when parents and students are choosing where to study. “Kyocera is being asked by customers to provide presentations that demonstrate the sustainable benefits of our products and their energy efficient features for use at open days,” he says.
He adds that other factors are driving the increase in demand for sustainable products, such as legislation. “The education sector forms part of the government’s drive towards Net Zero by 2050; they’re specifically tasked by the DofE with decarbonising their estate and reducing carbon emissions in a bid to improve overall sustainability,” he says.
“But budgets are squeezed. Schools are constantly on the lookout for cost efficiencies and anything that can reduce their power consumption to cut electricity bills.”
Right products
But if educational establishments are committed to sustainability they need to look beyond the product to understand provenance, Steve adds. “Is the vendor a carbon neutral business? Are their printers and MFPs designed with the environment in mind. Can the device be carbon offset?
“But there are some easy changes to make beyond green tech – use kinder paper, use print management tools to reduce waste, print in eco-mode and duplex to cut ink and paper costs. Think about educating users on how they can be more environmentally conscious when it comes to designing handouts.”
Here, resellers have an important role to help ensure educational establishments get the right products from a sustainable perspective but at the right price.
“Resellers should consider the total cost of ownership (TCO) – as well as all the sustainability benefits – as the overall cost of a printer must be co considered over its lifetime and not just as an up-front cost,” Steve says.
“Long-life components and high-yield toner cartridges drive down TCO and reduce the environmental cost associated with replacing parts frequently.”
Danielle adds that resellers can curate a range of sustainable products specifically tailored to meet the needs of educational establishments. “This involves researching and sourcing products from reliable manufacturers and suppliers who prioritise sustainability,” she says. “Resellers can verify the sustainability credentials of products, such as energy efficiency ratings, eco-certifications, or recycled content, to ensure they meet the desired sustainable standards.
Establishing partnerships
Resellers can also establish partnerships with vendors and manufacturers that offer sustainable products, notes Danielle. “By working closely with these suppliers, resellers can negotiate favourable pricing and terms for educational establishments,” she says. “They can also collaborate with vendors to develop sustainable product bundles or packages that meet the specific requirements of educational institutions.”
Julie Hadley, Evo Group’s head of corporate social responsibility, agrees that working with a supplies partner can help. “There are sustainable alternatives to every product category out there, it just depends on the focus of the establishment,” she says. “Switching from single-use products to reusable and refillable alternatives, higher yield products or even unchanged products that have been packaged without plastics, there are a lot of options out there. The challenge lies with procurement teams, who have a better opportunity than ever to make a difference, which is why it helps to work with a supplies partner that can do that work for you.”
Pricing is also important, Julie adds. “The environmental impact of everything from toilet paper to computers and furniture has been important to the education sector for years, but the difference now is a is greater understanding that cheap product has a social cost elsewhere in the supply chain,” she says. “Product sourced more sustainably will sometimes carry a higher price tag and this is more widely accepted as a result.
“But it’s not always the case that more sustainable products are more expensive than the alternative and it’s a broader picture over a whole contract of supplied goods, taking account of cost to serve, order values, order frequency and so on. It also depends on the product category and the educational establishment’s priorities. For example, if you’re replacing single-use products with something reusable, you may pay more upfront, but over time you will save money.”
More than a trend
The drive towards using more sustainable products in education, as with other sectors, is more than just a trend.
“The world is changing,” says Julie. “Sustainable products and practice has to become business as usual because resource is finite and things cannot continue the way they have been.”
Steve agrees that sustainability is an established part of the landscape. “Environmental concern is growing all the time and product innovations reflects that,” he says. “Climate change is big news and pressure for sustainable technology in the education sector is influenced by student movements like Fridays for Future and through UK law that scores tenders on product environmental credentials.”
This means that resellers will need to push sustainable products and solutions even more in the future – and seize the opportunities that brings.
