The purchase of solid, liquid and gaseous raw materials can be one of the most expensive inputs for any business but managing them more efficiently will help you to lower the costs.

Using materials efficiently is all about making more with less, which can have a direct and lasting impact on your business's bottom line and reduce its environmental impact at the same time. It will also help you to minimise waste, and hence save on waste-related costs, and to improve productivity and performance.

A regular 'walk-around' on site and ongoing dialogue with your different work teams can help you to identify key sources of waste material and find the most cost-effective ways of addressing them.

Here are some straightforward ideas for improving material efficiency:

• Use materials sparingly, for example by minimising the amount you print, using double-sided printing, re-using envelopes and folders, minimising the amount of cleaning products you use, and re-using packaging or containers on site.
• Review the amount of materials you use and only purchase what you actually need.
• Negotiate bespoke specifications with your suppliers - for example, by asking them to adjust the size and dimensions of a material to avoid off-cuts and unnecessary waste.
• Repair broken goods where possible rather than purchasing replacements.
• Review the way materials are processed on site, to make sure they are being used as efficiently as possible.
• Source materials locally, to minimise the environmental impact of long-distance transportation.
• Think about whether you can make your products or packaging smaller and lighter, so that they incorporate less material. This will also reduce packaging waste and minimise the costs and emissions associated with distribution.
• Use biodegradable, sustainable or recyclable materials where possible and label your products or packaging as 'recyclable', to encourage end-users to recycle.