IMCD Group has been awarded the Lean & Green Star award, and is the only distributor to receive the honor. In 2011 IMCD Group was the first and distributor to be awarded the Lean & Green Award. This year, it is among a group of 16 companies, out of an eligible 250, that successfully reached the set goals in order to be awarded the Lean & Green Star award.
The Lean & Green award is bestowed upon companies that commit themselves to significantly reducing their CO₂ emissions, submitting a satisfactory action plan that is subsequently assessed and approved. Additionally, the Lean & Green Star award is given to companies that could demonstrate their fulfillment of the above mentioned targets. After review of IMCD’s carbon footprint for 2010, 2011 and 2012, the company proved to have reached the objectives.
The Star Award is a part of the innovation program Sustainable Logistics by Connekt, an independent network of companies and authorities, collaborating to achieve a sustainable improvement in mobility. The Sustainable Logistics program was initiated by the Dutch Ministry of Transport and it supports logistics companies in their drive to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions while increasing profitability.
“IMCD is one of the ‘front runners’ within a network of shipping companies, hauliers, distributors and councils that have committed themselves to reducing their CO₂ emissions by at least 20% in 2012,” noted Stan Bijsterveld, IMCD group supply chain director, in a company press release.
IMCD has achieved this target not only by utilizing other modes of transport, such as rail and barge, but also by analyzing the flow of goods, collaborating with suppliers to ensure that sustainability requirements are met and reducing the number of unloaded kilometers in cooperation with hauliers and customers.
Although the Sustainable Logistics program was initiated by the Dutch Ministry of Transport, IMCD is currently working together with Connekt in Italy to replicate this joint success and is also planning to expand with them to other countries such as Spain and Sweden.
