30 November 2006 | Helen Gilbert

The Carbon Trust is urging businesses to cut emissions in their supply chain and deliver low-carbon products and services to UK consumers.

In its report Carbon Footprints in the Supply Chain: The Next Steps for Business, published last week, the organisation outlines measures businesses should take to identify the carbon footprint of individual products and services they sell.

The report highlights a supply chain audit carried out by snack food firm Walkers and print media organisation Trinity Mirror, which identified potential annual savings for both firms of £2.7 million and 28,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year - the equivalent carbon emissions of 5,000 households.

The trust is working on similar projects with Cadbury Schweppes, Marks & Spencer and Boots.

Tom Delay, Carbon Trust chief executive, said the delivery of low-carbon products would also open up "new revenue streams" and "increase brand loyalty" if properly communicated.

David Gregory, head of technology at M&S Foods, added: "We are working with the Carbon Trust to help us understand our carbon hotspots and how we can help to reduce emissions."

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