Sustainable Business Transformation to be a Gradual Process: Experts

Moderating the Sustainability session of the Future of Logistics Conference Part II held recently in Dubai, TLME Chairman Joe Beydoun asked the panellists how companies planned to make their transformations to sustainable business models? Would it be an immediate change? Or more of a gradual process?

Container shipping expert, CEO & Partner at Vespucci Maritime, Lars Jensen was of the view that the change would a gradual and incremental. Mearsk putting up 2040 as their target year for net zero emissions seems “fairly aggressive”, said Mr Jensen, adding: “That’s as fast as it can go.”

One area of concern for Mr Jensen was the political pressures brought to bear upon the shipping industry as governments move to expedite their sustainability agenda in a somewhat unrealistic manner.

Exemplifying his point Mr Jensen pointed to the building of sustainable ships. If we build LNG-powered vessels today, then they would give a maximum of 25% reduction in emissions and will need to be used over the next 25 years at least.

However, if we continue to use our old vessels a little longer and change them when green fuels are actually ready for market, then we would have a more rapid transition to green shipping and achieve greater reductions in emissions over the longer term.

“Short-term aims might actually end up prolonging our long-term aims whereas a slow and practical process might actually be more beneficial overall,” concluded Mr Jensen.

Mary Oxley, VP Marketing & Sales – MEA for DHL Global Forwarding said that organisations needed to set science-based targets and setting a date and a value is one thing but being on track to achieve the same is another. Business and trade are increasing and “green-miling” the first and last mile has to be a core transport and logistics industry focus.

“The difference between 1.5 v/s 2 (degrees Celsius) is quite significant and could mean the difference between retaining our polar ice caps v/s not,” added Ms Oxley and we as human beings needed to action sustainability into our day-to-day lives going beyond transport and logistics.

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