VWR Corporate Overview**VWR Founded over 150 years ago One of the largest distributors of lab supplies in the world 8,000 associates in over 25 countries $4.1 billion in sales (2011)Mission: To enable the advancement of science throughout the world

Common Customer Sustainability Requests**

Case Study: Customer Tote Programs**Source: wh1.com

Case Study: Customer Tote Programs**Customers may not see full environmental impactImpacts are not eliminated only shifted along the supply chain

What Distributors Customer sees:Reduced waste- packaging & cardboard- less clutter in labPositive impact to sustainability goals- metrics are favorableProblem Solved- Right?What the Distributor sees: Increased waste at Distributors facilities- packaging & cardboard Negative impact to Distributors sustainability goalsTotes are heavier than cardboard impacts fuel efficiency during transport Totes break and need to be repaired and replaced- increased costs/waste Totes are not returned and need to be replacedPacking products on totes is not easily integrated into distribution process

Key Challenges**How do you give the customer what they want when it does not fit your business modelExample- Delivering product in carts to reduce waste at customer sites

How do you help customers see sustainability from broader perspectivesBalancing customer sustainability initiatives with your ownCustomers may ask for services that are detrimental to your own program this forces you to look up the supply chain

Developing Successful Tote Programs**Create closed loop program where suppliers are involved Supplier ships product in tote to avoid disposable packaging from beginning Customer ships empty totes directly back to supplier Distributor does not generate waste from detrashing and does not have to store and manage totes More streamlined, efficient, and implementable solution

Engaging Suppliers to Reduce Waste**In a Distributors Customer Survey about Waste and Recycling:#1 Complaint was Packaging Waste

Solution: Engage upstream partners to fix downstream problemsInspired by Toyota- Kaizens and lean thinking (Japanese for "improvement" or "change for the better)- expand from internal exercise to external with distributors and customers

Common Customer Sustainability Requests**

Balancing Product Sustainability and Costs**

Low Cost Environmentally Preferable Products (EPPs)**

Across Industries: Grainger, Office Max, VWR Cost-competitive EPPs Within Our Industry: Centrifuges (recycled content), pipet tips (bio-based), freezers (energy efficient)Many companies are creating branded EPPs which are lower cost

Common Customer Sustainability Requests**

Product Recycling and Take-Back Solutions**Advantages:Can reduce waste in supply chain and help customers achieve sustainability goalsCan provide customized solutions to customers to create stickiness Can make money by providing these services

Pipet tip box recyclingChemical recyclingGarment recyclingGlove recyclingEquipment recycling/take-back

Key Drivers of Sustainability SuccessCollaboration & transparency with customers and suppliersSharing of best practices & mistakesPartners are at different stages of the journey- be motivational, patient, and supportiveIncreasing efficiency and reducing waste is a win for allLook at the big picture & think holistically

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Thank You!Questions.

**Megan MaltenfortSustainability Manager, VWR Internationalmegan_maltenfort@vwr.com610-386-1228