Making supply chains leaner and greener

The Lean and Green programme encourages companies to develop a plan of action for reducing transport and supply chain emissions

Spotted: Although the word ‘sustainable’ seems to be on everyone’s lips today, it is not always that easy for businesses to translate interest into action. In response, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment and Connekt, a Dutch non-profit network for sustainable mobility, decided to help. The two organisations established Lean and Green, an independent programme that encourages businesses to become more sustainable by taking measures that reduce their environmental impact and cut their costs. 

Lean and Green helps companies to improve their sustainability by focusing on transportation. Organisations are assisted in developing a plan of action that will reduce CO2 emissions by 20 per cent within five years. If they develop a plan, the organisation is eligible for the Lean and Green Award, and achieving the goals in the plan earns them Lean and Green Stars.

Lean and Green is based on three organisational pillars: Lean and Green Logistics, Lean and Green Personal Mobility and Lean and Green Synchromodal (to do with the container supply chain). Since the launch of the programme in 2008, it has grown into a network of more than 400 Lean and Green Award and Star Winners in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Luxembourg.

In addition to awards, the programme has also developed tools to help organisations meet their goals. These include the Green Order tool, which is used to calculate CO2 emissions connected to ordering and procurement; the Green Tender tool, which is designed to incorporate sustainability in transport tendering; and the Green Care Transport tool, which can be used by shippers, transport companies, and retailers to organise shipments more efficiently. 

Logistics is a major area of interest for innovators looking to improve sustainability and deliver cost savings. It also presents complex challenges which require companies and innovators to work closely together to deliver improvements. Springwise has seen a wide number of innovations in this space, covering everything from autonomous last-mile deliveries to platforms enabling predictive analysis of shipping.