The benefits of being a certified company for the health of the planet, brand development and customer satisfaction make this one of the best measures for the future.
Going green is no longer an option; it is a necessity. Global warming is a pressing issue and the preservation of our planet is high on the agenda of businesses, citizens and, increasingly, governments. This urgency has led in recent years to the development of measures to make logistics more environmentally friendly, such as ISO 14001 certification.
The ISO 14001 is an international standard created for designing and implementing an environmental management system. It was agreed by the majority of member countries before being published and updated, therefore, it has become an internationally recognised standard and accepted by most countries around the world.
In an ISO 14001 certification survey at the end of 2017, the number of companies that have implemented an ISO 14001 environmental management system shows a stable trend worldwide. Below are the results for the 6-year period prior to the last update.
What is the environmental management system we have mentioned?
An environmental management system, often referred to as an WMSis made up of policies, processes, plans, practices and records that define the rules governing how your company interacts with the environment. This system should be tailored to the particular needs of the company.
Why is it so important to implement it in the logistics and transport sector?
Reduced environmental impact
The logistics sector contributes 25% of the Co2 emitted in Spain according to the European Environment AgencyThis is a figure that looks set to rise over time as eCommerce by small and large retailers increases. Taking care of our environment and ensuring that our companies generate as little negative impact as possible are two of the most important challenges facing logistics companies today. But it is a challenge that is possible to meet, beneficial for companies and, above all, necessary for the planet.
Improve your image and credibility
By assuring customers that you are committed to demonstrably managing your environmental impacts, you can enhance your image and market share by maintaining a good public image and improving community relations.
Improving cost control
One improvement that all companies seek is to reduce costs. EMS can do this by reducing the energy and materials used, while minimising incidents for which a company may incur liability costs. Since improved environmental controls can help obtain insurance at reduced costs to the company.
Use data-driven decision making
When designing an environmental management system we ensure that we are using accurate data to make decisions about which processes to improve. This can greatly increase the chances of our improvements succeeding the first time rather than having several failed attempts. By using this data to track progress, these improvement initiatives can be corrected before they are derailed, saving costs and time.
Engaging our people to achieve a goal will bring us closer together.
Today, if given the choice between working for a company that shows care and concern for the environment and one that does not, most people would prefer the former. By involving your employees in a group and global effort to reduce your environmental footprint, you can increase employee focus and retention.
We know that it is possible for our sector to become increasingly respectful of the health of the planet. But it will be up to us to take a step forward and opt for smarter, more innovative distribution that respects our natural environment, while at the same time not being an impediment to our economic growth.
