3 Way Displays

3 Way Displays is an SME based in Chesham - Buckinghamshire, established in 2000, specialising in bespoke point-of-sale and point-of-purchase displays for retail, exhibitions and signage.

The business provides an end-to-end service covering design, fabrication, print and installation, with in-house capability across plastics, metalwork, woodwork and finishing.  

The company operates in a sector where material choice, product longevity and production efficiency have a direct impact on both cost and carbon footprint. Its customer base also increasingly expects suppliers to demonstrate credible progress on sustainability and supply chain decarbonisation. 

3 Way Displays wanted to understand its carbon footprint more clearly and take practical action to reduce emissions while meeting growing customer expectations around decarbonisation.  

Its challenge was that the majority of its emissions were embedded in purchased goods and services, which are harder to measure accurately than direct operational emissions, and there are often barriers to switching away from these materials. The lack of tools and dataset impacted low-carbon decision making in design and quoting and held back the business from offering transparent sustainability data to customers. 

The Made Smarter expert helped identify and define the data set to be collected for monitoring and reporting. And with support from Made Smarter South East, 3 Way Displays implemented a technology-enabled carbon measurement approach, establishing its first carbon baseline for 2025, covering key operational activities and purchased materials. The footprint showed total annual emissions of 2,115 tonnes CO2e, with Scope 3 purchased goods and services representing 2,013 tonnes CO2e, or 95% of the total, allowing the business to focus effort where it would have the greatest impact. It also highlighted the need to improve the accuracy of Scope 3 (supply chain) data over time and to turn carbon insights into decisions the business could use in quoting, design and supplier engagement. 

With the help of a Made Smart expert, a Carbon Reduction Plan was developed and adopted, setting out the baseline greenhouse gas emissions profile, priority actions and a roadmap for improvement, backed by data and driven by data insights.  
The plan reported clear progress to date and included practical future actions. Existing good practices were captured, such as stock control, offcut use, modular stand design and staff travel choices. Potential future actions were explored amongst the wider team, and the most feasible and impactful actions were agreed for 2027 onwards. These included more accurate supplier data collection, material selection based on sustainability gradings, giving low-carbon options in client quotes, and further improvements to cutting and machining efficiency. 
The plan also included energy and workplace efficiency measures such as motion sensor lighting, equipment monitoring, shutdown checklists, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) optimisation and, in the long-term, consideration of a more energy-efficient building.  

Matilda Saunders, sustainability lead at 3 Ways Displays said: “The process was straightforward and tailored to our business, with Shelley taking the time to understand the unique challenges we face as an SME manufacturer on our sustainability journey. The final report provided practical, achievable recommendations, and every stage was explained clearly, giving us the confidence to set realistic carbon reduction goals. We are extremely pleased with the outcome and the support we received throughout the project.” 

The immediate benefit is a clear and credible baseline from which the business can manage emissions and report progress with more confidence. The plan has also given 3 Way Displays a sharper understanding of where its biggest impacts sit, which helps prioritise action and avoids spreading effort too thinly.  

The application and use of technology to monitor, optimise and inform decisions is enabling cost savings and better efficiencies. 
Commercially, the intervention strengthens the business’s ability to respond to customer sustainability requirements, support supply chain decarbonisation conversations and offer clients material choices with clearer carbon implications. Operationally, the measures are expected to improve material efficiency, reduce waste and deliver cost savings over time through better production planning and energy management. 

Matilda Saunders, sustainability lead at 3 Ways Displays said: “Working with Made Smarter and Shelley gave us a clear understanding of how to begin measuring and managing our carbon footprint. Their support helped us identify both immediate and long-term opportunities to reduce emissions while also lowering operational costs.”