Sustainability is changing the way we understand our economic, social and environmental reality.
The so-called 'green wave' in the supply chain is becoming the new normal. More and more companies are adopting CSR measures and, as more and more studies emerge, it is hard to deny the many benefits of this transition.
According to the consulting firm McKinsey, companies that are committed to sustainability not only improve their processes, but also have higher growth rates and help create value.
This premise is also shared by The Economist, which, in its essay entitled '.Sustainability: the missing link', underlines how this change allows companies to save money, avoid regulatory costs and improve their reputation - environmental friendliness is critical for customers' 85%.
Considering that 90% of companies' impacts on the environment come from their supply chains, it is not surprising that much effort is focused on this link, making the role of certifications more necessary than ever.
Seeing is believing
Initially identified as a trend, sustainability in the logistics and transport sector has proven not to be a one-off. It is not a trendy concept that will disappear in a few years. It is here to stay.
The IBEX 35 companies are a good example of this. More than half of the companies in this select group evaluate their suppliers according to environmental and social criteria. The same is true of the Administration, which by law gives priority to non-polluting businesses when tendering for public contracts.
Following the law of supply and demand, more and more companies are looking to offer green operations to satisfy the 70% of customers under 35 who prefer to consume in responsible companies, according to Adecco.
However, it is not enough to say that your business is sustainable. You have to prove it.
What is a certificate?
Like quality and safety certifications, sustainability certifications are voluntary norms and standards where all aspects related to environmental, social and ethical safety are monitored, usually by third parties.
The objective is clear: to demonstrate the performance of organisations, products or services in specific areas.
From choosing the most responsible packaging to optimal waste management, there are many areas where the supply chain can demonstrate its progress. In fact, to date, there are around 20 international certifications related to green logistics.
Some of them, such as the Smart Freight Center Accreditation; the Smart Way of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Ecoports Certification, are associated with commitments to build sustainable supply chains, to disseminate good practices in the use of natural resources or to report actual GHG emissions.
Another group of certifications that are more general but applicable to industry are Global Goals, Carbon Trust or Cradle to Cradle, aligned with the SDGs set by the UN.
The certifications that ensure green logistics
Focusing on some specific certifications, green logistics tends to be associated with the following standards:
- ISO 50001 certification. It is the world's most widely used corporate energy management standard. It helps organisations to implement an energy policy and to properly manage all aspects of energy management.
- ISO 14064 certification. It is the standard that allows voluntary verification of the carbon footprint of companies.
- ISO 14001 certification. This standard optimises resource and waste management, reducing negative impacts and risks associated with accidental situations.
- EMAS certification. Also based on ISO 14001, this system helps organisations to contribute to the development of circular economies.
- Zero Waste Certification. Promoted in Spain by AENOR, the document recognises those organisations that value the different waste fractions they generate.
Each of the aforementioned show various prisms through which the links in the supply chain can certify that their operations are on track to be part of green logistics. However, these are not the only ways of accrediting corporate commitment to the environment.
An example of this is the Lean & Green initiative. Led in Spain by AECOC, this platform, which in 2021 awarded the sustainable action plan In Side Logistics, started as an international initiative to help companies in all sectors to minimise their greenhouse gas emissions from logistics activities.
The ultimate goal of this project is to reach the Paris Climate Summit (COP21) targets of carbon neutral emissions by 2050 on time.
Overall, there are many ways to demonstrate the supply chain's commitment to a more sustainable future, and therefore, there are many ways in which logistics can contribute to a future for and by all.
