Sustainable business practices as part of your logistics DNA
Traditionally, logistics was considered a ‘cost centre’, but it can in fact contribute much customer value and many distinctive qualities, especially if the organisation as a whole makes a clear link to sustainable operations. Any essential investments will always pay for themselves.
Assumptions:
- the customer is the focal point
- innovations do not originate exclusively from larger companies and knowledge institutes
- respond to changing market conditions
- invest and develop in a new economic era; the economy will not return to what it used to be
- develop new business models that fit in with the current and future spirit of the times
- involve employees and environment in developments
- sustainability is a means, not an end in itself
Key themes for the coming years include:
- supply chain continuity (prevent irregularities (safety & security), guarantee raw material supply)
- footprint, circular economy (cradle-to-cradle, energy, recycling materials, preventing waste, scrap)
- HRM/social innovation (smart collaboration, leadership, diversity, The New Way of Working (TNWOW))
- transparency and communication
- CSR as business case (new business models)