MAKING CSR CENTRAL TO YOUR BUSINESS
Corporate social responsibility is part of navigating a path to a zero-emissions future for the logistics and supply chain industries
Azero-emissions future is the goal for the logistics and supply chain industries, but many sectors are still reliant on fossil fuels, high energy usages, and tonnes of packaging. While CSR encompasses everything from supporting teachers, helping school kids from low-income families, to distributing vaccinations to remote parts of Ghana, and transporting Coronavirus samples safely, it is the CSR programmes focussed on helping the environment, which will have the largest impact on how these sectors operate.
Already we are seeing strides across the transport industry. In shipping, vessels are swapping to LNG powered engines, reducing CO2 emissions and other pollutants. Wärtsilä, a global leader in sustainability solutions is just testing its LPG Fuel Supply System - the first ever to undergo engine testing. In the small delivery sector, electric motorbikes and delivery vehicles are already on the roads, dramatically reducing CO2 emissions.
Most logistics and supply chain companies have a goal to reduce emissions, the difficult task is how to do it without compromising service quality.
UPS aims to reduce its emissions by 12% on an absolute basis across its global ground operations by 2025, according to Crystal Lassiter, UPS senior director of Global Sustainability and Environmental Affairs.
That means that, even as its business grows, its emissions must decrease – during a time of booming e-commerce growth that is driving facility and fleet expansion across its business.
“To reach this goal, we’re accelerating our use of renewable energy, including the largest purchase ever of renewable natural gas (RNG) in the US. Using 170 million gallon equivalents of RNG to fuel our fleet will help reduce emissions by more than 1 million metric tons through 2026 – the equivalent of planting 17 million trees or removing 228,000 cars from the road,” said Lassiter.
Similar initiatives are being rolled out across the supply chain in an attempt to reduce greenhouse gases, improve efficiency, and save the world from global warming. But, is it too late?