Five UK distributors share their approaches to sustainability

As distributors focus on the big topics of the day, the sustainable transition hasn’t fallen by the wayside – it’s merely being embedded into disties’ business models

If you’ve been to any channel events this year, you’d be forgiven for thinking that companies in the channel—and distribution specifically—are single-minded in their focus on AI as the big talking point of the year.

But even though the technology has consumed plenty of bandwidth, distributors are not letting sustainability fall by the wayside.

Many believe that, as the hinge point between vendors and partner firms, they are instrumental to the sustainable transition and making this a core pillar of their strategic thinking.

As part of our Distributors to Know series, we checked in on several disties, including broadliners, specialists, hardware and software-focused firms – and asked how they see their role in the green revolution.

Here’s what they had to say.

Jon Atherton of CI Distribution sees distribution as a critical leverage point.

“We bring to market sustainable products delivered by eco-friendly carriers and packaged responsibly, ensuring that sustainability credentials support the channel's own targets while deploying circular economy principles through our recycling division,” he tells CRN.

Atherton’s view reflects a growing understanding that sustainability is not just about reducing carbon footprints; it's about transforming the entire ecosystem—right from how products are sourced and shipped to how they are recycled.

Distribution is increasingly about more than just moving boxes; it’s about moving the needle on environmental and social issues, too.

For Mukesh Gupta, CEO of e92plus, the alignment between efficient operations and sustainability is a natural progression.

"By reducing costs and waste in the supply chain and integrating complementary technologies effectively, we can spearhead crucial changes that align with our broad view of the channel's role in sustainability," Gupta says.

Gupta echoes Atherton’s point, viewing sustainability not as a standalone initiative, but as a fundamental business practice.

Reducing waste, optimising supply chains, and integrating technologies are seen as ways to drive profitability and sustainability simultaneously, indicating a shift from sustainability being a "nice-to-have" to a core business strategy.

A telling example of this change is the work being done by Westcon-Comstor.

"In 2023, we were proud to become the first major global distributor with net-zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and we now meet 100% of our electricity needs from renewable sources across our UK sites," COO Callum McGregor shares.

Such achievements mark a significant milestone, not just for Westcon-Comstor, but for the wider distribution sector, as it demonstrates a commitment to tangible, measurable change.

McGregor’s point about addressing Scope 3 emissions—those not directly controlled by a company but part of its wider value chain—emphasises the need for collective action across the industry.

However, the road to sustainability is not without its challenges.

John Lester, group sales director of Intec Microsystems, points out a significant hurdle: "The obvious step would be a move to greener energy and particularly the vehicles used to distribute products. Although costly, it’s a necessary shift that remains a priority."

Lester’s insight reflects a broader challenge faced by many distributors: balancing the need for significant upfront investments in green technologies, such as electric fleets and renewable energy sources, with the operational costs and realities of running a distribution business.

It’s a delicate balancing act, but one that distributors increasingly understand is worth undertaking for long-term sustainability benefits.

Some are already starting to take the long-term view and grounding their business growth efforts.

“We are part of the channel ecosystem. We are always considering the impact of day-to-day operations – from reducing travel to off-setting carbon impact for our events and marketing activities, explains Justin Griffiths, managing director of Infinigate UK.

“It is on us to continue putting pressure on our logistics suppliers and vendors to improve their efficiencies and drive green initiatives, increase electric vehicle use and reduce the impact of shipping IT equipment around the globe. Ultimately, we should all be accelerating the journey to the cloud which will have a greater impact on reducing carbon footprint for the industry.”