Sourceful's First Impact Report: A Testament to Sustainable Sourcing

We are thrilled to announce the release of our first public impact report at Sourceful. As a company founded with an impact mission at its core, this report is a significant milestone in our journey. Since our inception, sustainability has been an integral part of our DNA. Now, we believe it's time to share our learnings and future goals, showcasing our commitment to driving positive change.

This report is not just a testament to our impact, but a treasure trove of meaningful insights from the world of packaging. We explore how brands can prove their commitment to impact through our Life Cycle Assessment engine, containing over 35 billion data-points. We also quantify the emission savings of integrating AI into design and share our overall impact in 2023. By sharing our impact publicly for the first time, we hope to provide valuable insights to our stakeholders.

The year 2023 was a pivotal one, both globally and for Sourceful. It was a year that saw generative AI stepping into the limelight, eliciting a mix of anticipation and apprehension. The world grappled with unprecedented supply-chain disruptions, demanding inventive solutions and resilience. The ever-increasing plastic crisis took centre stage, with a continued consumer shift towards plastic-free alternatives. The long-awaited extended producer responsibility (EPR) packaging regulations also came into effect, impacting most consumer brands.

At Sourceful, we experienced rapid growth and managed to reduce our carbon intensity in the process. With science and data at the core, we collaborated with brilliant customers who opted for better choices and communicated their sustainability commitments with confidence and conviction.

In 2023, thanks to the use of generative AI, we avoided 463kg CO2e that otherwise would have been released into the atmosphere if we used samples. That's equivalent to 1,187 miles driven by an average gas-powered passenger vehicle. By adopting the same approach, we estimated that the use of generative AI could save 672 tCO2e per year across the entire UK packaging sector.

We reduced packaging emissions for our clients on average by 13%, across their full life cycle emissions, using our LCA engine. Our carbon intensity was reduced by more than 60% compared to 2022, measured as CO2 emissions per £ of revenue generated. 83% of our catalogue was recyclable at the kerbside, and 96% of our catalogue was (actually!) plastic-free. 969 tonnes of CO2e was also offset through Sourceful, by investing in cutting-edge carbon removal technology companies, equivalent to driving around 2.5 million miles in a car.

As we look ahead, we are focused on developing the capabilities and tools necessary for responsible scaling. We invite you to reach out to [email protected]. In the meantime, we hope you have a great, (and more sustainable) year!

Our first public impact report is available to download now.

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