AllChiefs Consulting, in collaboration with Smart Freight Centre and the Rotterdam School of Management, is embarking on a comprehensive study to delve into ways the logistics industry can accelerate its journey towards decarbonization.
The logistics sector accounts for approximately 10% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. As globalization continues and the transportation of goods expands, this figure is projected to increase in the forthcoming years.
Bonne Goedhart, a partner at AllChiefs, emphasizes the urgency of transitioning to a carbon-neutral future given the industry’s significant carbon footprint.
However, transitioning to more eco-friendly practices presents a range of challenges. These include the difficulty of reducing emissions in sectors like freight transportation, the substantial financial investments required, the complexities of reducing scope 3 emissions within multifaceted ecosystems, and a lack of proactive engagement from industry executives.
“Even with the advancements in technology and regulatory shifts, a study from MIT indicates that merely 35% of logistics and transport companies have established net zero targets,” notes Goedhart.
This sluggish progress in the industry is worrisome, according to Pim Roest, another partner at AllChiefs. He states, “The inertia in taking action casts doubt on the industry’s ability to meet its sustainability objectives.”
Committed to being a purpose-driven B Corp, AllChiefs is stepping up to address this challenge. “There is a lot that can be accomplished, and providing actionable insights is the first step,” Goedhart remarks. “That’s precisely why we are initiating this research project, collaborating with organizations that share our vision, such as Smart Freight Centre and the Rotterdam School of Management.”
In their inaugural study, the partners aim to investigate the decarbonization strategies adopted by companies in the logistics and transportation sector, as well as the management practices employed to implement these strategies.
AllChiefs will lead the research, encompassing survey methodologies and interviews, while drawing on Smart Freight Centre’s expertise in sustainable logistics and the Rotterdam School of Management’s academic rigor and prior research.
Rob Zuidwijk, a professor specializing in Global Supply Chains and Ports at the Rotterdam School of Management, will contribute to the research. “The combination of the Rotterdam School of Management’s academic insights and AllChiefs’ practical business acumen will facilitate the logistics industry’s decarbonization efforts, both technically and managerially,” he states.
The first collaborative report is anticipated to be published in the summer of 2024.