Sustainability dimensions in goods movement: Lessons learned | HOOU

Sustainability dimensions in goods movement

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The section “Sustainability dimensions in goods movement” provides you with an overview of the three pillars of sustainability – society, environment and economy – and its importance for goods movement.

6. Lessons learned

In this chapter you should have learnt that the

Social dimension is important

... to ensure the well-being of the cooperation in the long term
... to bring social and ecological thinking together
... to be responsible for the employees of suppliers and service providers (Scope 3)
... to consider culture differences

Ecological dimension is important

… to explain the interaction that occurs between humans and natural aspects of the environment
… to ensure the use of natural resources in a rational and efficient way
… to ensure its conservation for the use of future generations

Economic dimension is important

… to create value responsibly to stakeholders
… to ensure the provision of energy effectiveness, quality and efficiency
… to promote an ethical and transparent behaviour
… to manage risks responsibly

Sustainability requires a rethinking on our part:

What do we really need? > Sufficiency
How fast are the cycles of renewal? > Extension of useful life
Use instead of owning? > Intensification of use
How much of what do we need (and how fast)? > hierarchy of needs
What can we do ourselves? > Prosumers

There are different measures to make goods movement more sustainable

Transport avoiding requires a rethinking in trade and industry. Transport can be avoided by:

Reducing volumes (only transport of saleable goods, extension of useful life, teleoperations...)

Reduction of distances (choice of location)

Traffic avoiding starts with optimising the use of modes of transport. Traffic can be avoided by:

Reducing volumes with a logistics-compatible product design, e.g. stackability and vacuum packaging, e.g. textiles

Avoidance of empty runs by improving the acquisition structure or do milk runs

Avoidance of vessels not being used to full capacity