In 2010, Sunderland City Council underwent a major restructure that saw the closure of multiple buildings. With over 1,000 staff affected, large quantities of surplus furniture needed to be redistributed rather than discarded. The council adopted Warp-It to create an internal marketplace where departments could claim surplus items before any new purchases were made.
Sunderland introduced a procurement block requiring all staff to search Warp-It before purchasing new items. This simple but effective policy change meant that surplus items were always considered first, dramatically reducing unnecessary spending.
The savings generated were so significant that they justified hiring a dedicated Warp-It officer to manage the platform and coordinate redistributions across the council.
“If the item is not on Warp it – staff can buy new.”
Dianne Pattison, Policy Officer, Sunderland City Council
From an initial investment of just £6,000, the council saved over £400,000 in 2.5 years – an extraordinary return on investment. The programme diverted 50 tonnes of waste from landfill and avoided 150 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The success of the programme was recognised with a SOPO (Society of Procurement Officers) award, and the model was later expanded into The Sunderland Partnership, bringing in schools, NHS, and voluntary organisations.
Start saving money and reducing waste with Warp-It.
