30 October 2008
Reward for mutual efforts aimed at sustainable transport
Rockwool Benelux and international transport company Van der Wal have managed to win a Lean and Green Award for their unique and lean cooperation in the area of sustainable transport.
Representing Rockwool Benelux (from left):
Roos Hunsche, Communications Manager
Pieter Hartog, Managing Director
John Schmitz, Procurement Manager
The Lean and Green Awards were established as a result of the Sustainable Logistics Innovation Programme, set up by the Dutch Ministry of Transport and Public Works in cooperation with other ministries and professional organisations in the areas of transport, logistics, shipping, agriculture, nature, environment, regional development and economic affairs plus the Dutch Employers’ Association. The goal of this initiative is to encourage the Dutch business community to operate in a more efficient and sustainable way in the area of transport and logistics.
The innovation programme is organised within Connekt, a public/private mobility network of businesses, government bodies and knowledge institutes. Connekt initiates projects targeting three main themes: accessibility of mainports and logistics, ICT in mobility, and urban accessibility and environmental planning. One of the goals of the programme is the establishment of a Sustainable Logistics Green Label. This quality label would enable businesses to demonstrate that they are making significant efforts to work with more sustainable logistics processes.
Rockwool Benelux and Van der Wal also aim to qualify for such a Green Label in the future. In order to realise this, both companies pooled their resources in the spring of 2008 and decided on a combined plan of action. By making use of Longer and Heavier Vehicles (LHV’s), also referred to in the Netherlands as “ecocombi’s”, in combination with alternative forms of transport, they aim to reduce in 2009 the number of kilometres driven by 30%, the CO2 emissions by at least 50,000 kg and the consumption of diesel fuel by 19,230 litres.
They also aim to triple these figures by 2010. Rockwool Benelux aims to schedule 1.800 LHV night transports, whereas Van der Wal aims to reduce the number of kilometres without freight to a level that is 5% under the sector’s average and to increase to 75% the transport volume with lorries which conform to the Euro 5 emission standard. This is a unique example of value chain cooperation, aimed at realising a ‘greener Dutch Distribution Land,’ which has now been rewarded by the Connekt jury with a Lean and Green Award.
Pieter Hartog, Managing Director of Rockwool Benelux, sees the award as a recognition of the efforts made by his company in the area of sustainability. “We are very much aware of our position in society and the responsibilities that this entails. It is therefore only logical that we also think in terms of corporate responsibility when it comes to structuring our business processes and that we aim to improve operational efficiency and yield while at the same time taking society and the environment into account. The Lean and Green Award for our partnership with Van der Wal is a striking recognition of our efforts in this area and another step on the road to a more sustainable world for all of us.”
Henk van der Wal, Managing Director of Van der Wal, is also proud of the award. “We attach a great deal of importance to sustainability. So we will do our utmost to actually realise the targets that we have fixed together with Rockwool. As a transport company, we are continually engaged in efforts to develop new logistics concepts. We therefore welcome the challenge of searching for innovative solutions in terms of sustainable transport. Rockwool is an ideal partner for us in this regard, as we share the same values and ambitions. I am therefore convinced that we will succeed in realising our shared goals.”
