Decarbonizing transportation: transforming supply chain logistics, a shared challenge

Speaking of sustainability today means looking beyond internal processes and understanding that an important part of the environmental impact is also found in the supply chain logistics. Transportation plays a key role in this journey.

At a global scale, the transportation sector is responsible for a quarter of energy related CO2 emissions. Besides, adding up transportation through highways, trucks and buses generate more than 35% of direct emissions, even though they represent a smaller fraction of the total vehicles. Proving that logistics are not only a fundamental part of the operations of companies, but also any decarbonization strategy.

Knowing this reality, at Grupo Plastilene we carried out the first Meeting of Transportation Suppliers, a space created an opportunity to share our vision, present our decarbonization plan and start building this journey together alongside strategic allies.

A key step within our decarbonization plan

This meeting is part of a working area that recognizes the importance of our supply chain within our emissions inventory and the need to focus our efforts on those who have the highest impact.

Within this management, the transportation suppliers are a priority, since their climate performance directly impacts our logistical operations. To this we include the work we do with material and service suppliers that, also, have a direct impact on our inventory.

At the same time, the plan also takes into account supporting other suppliers that, although today they might have less developed capabilities to manage their emissions, they do play a relevant role in our inventory. The goal is to move forward with them in a progressive manner, strengthening their knowledge, tools, and capabilities.

A space to align our efforts

During the meeting we covered fundamental topics to move towards a more efficient and less environmentally impactful logistical strategy.

One of them was the carbon footprint measurement, which we understand to be the starting point to understand the current impact and define reduction targets more clearly. We also shared our focus regarding our strategies to reduce emissions, focusing on operational efficiency and decisions that can create real improvements within the transportation management.

Other central topics were logistical optimization, especially the value that data has to inform better decisions, reduce inefficiencies, and find concrete improvements opportunities. We added to this an essential component: raising awareness, we did this by recognizing drivers and logistical operators as protagonists in this transformation and a central actor in the creation of a culture that prioritizes decarbonization.

Moving forward together

More than just sharing technical information, this meeting looked to start an important conversation regarding the current challenges in transportation and the importance of moving towards more responsible logistical models. The participation of representatives from different associations and our allies helped strengthen this focus and strengthen that this is a challenge that can only be solved in an articulated manner.

At Grupo Plastilene we understand that decarbonization is not achieved on an individual basis. It requires joint efforts, constant follow-up, an exchange of capabilities, as well as a shared long-term vision.

We keep moving forward to build a more efficient logistics chain, better prepared for environmental challenges, and aligned to the future we want to see.

Sources for the second paragraph: https://www.iea.org/world/emissions 

https://www.iea.org/energy-system/transport/trucks-and-buses

https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg3/chapter/chapter-10/