Sustainability is both a responsibility and an opportunity to secure the future of business and society. This topic is an issue high on the agenda in most industries today, and the transport and logistics sector is no exception. In honor of the International Women’s Day, we want you to meet three of our many amazing women at Greencarrier. They have logistics and solutions in mind every day at work. Get to know Christina, Åsa and Minna!
Hi Christina Windahl, working with Strategic Sales and Business Development for Greencarrier Freight Services in Sweden! How did you first get involved with the world of shipping and logistics?
– A bit unexpectedly and not planned, I came back to Sweden after some college time in the US, and got myself a job in air freight forwarding at Arlanda Airport, Stockholm. It was supposed to be temporarily, but the daily variety in the logistics environment makes it difficult to leave.
What do you do at Greencarrier?
– I work with Strategic Sales and Business Development for Greencarrier Freights Services in Sweden. In my role, I have a mission to work long term towards customers with more complex needs, involving many functions and decision makers, both at the customer side as well as within Greencarrier.
Why do you think companies should invest in sustainable transport solutions?
– Do we have a choice not to? When scientific evidences are clear, mankind is affecting the climate, we all need to rethink about how we plan our logistics; can we build solutions on various lead times and services based upon healthy discussions with both suppliers and customers? Can we change and mix speed and yet meet the market demands? Someone has to take the lead and dare to challenge set ways of working. My young adult children and their awareness inspire me to believe that we all need to make active choices and challenge the current patterns to reduce our climate footprint. The future employees and customers will work for and buy brands that are in line with this.
Sustainable shipping is close to the heart of Greencarrier. Why is this so important?
– We are a modern company, wanting to make a difference. In sales and business development, we need to lift the discussion to another level and look at the alternative options. Can the companies we meet work in a different way and still be successful? We have a clear mission from our owner to be innovative and find new ways of shipping, but in the end Greencarrier Freight Services is not in control of the goods flow, not paying the final freight bill and not making the final decisions. The successes of our products lay in the hands of our current and potential customers and a mutual ambition is needed.
Which are the biggest challenges within the logistics industry according to you?
– It differs from segment to segment, but it’s time to reflect and discuss new ways of shipping, lead time based. Both we, and our customers are to some extent in the hands of the shipping lines and air lines, and their ability to adapt to new demands, but I think we need to look beyond the cost per kg or container etc. Including the environmental cost is vital, and that the market expects to pay more long term. I think the real change will come when more companies view our solutions and services as more than a cost, as something that contributes to their success. Switching from road to an intermodal solution isn’t even more expensive and only a day or two longer in transit. In the meantime, we keep evaluating our suppliers, in order to inspire the environmental focus and find areas of improvement to work with together.
Hi Åsa Leander, our Head of Sustainability and Brand Management for Greencarrier Group! How did you first get involved with the world of shipping and logistics?
– A pure coincidence. I actually applied for another job, but the hiring agency saw that I would be a great cultural fit for Greencarrier and 11 years later in this company, I can only confirm that they were right. It’s a really interesting industry with a lot of interesting people in it.
What do you do at Greencarrier?
– Since October 2018, I’m the Head of Sustainability and Brand Management for Greencarrier Group, meaning that I develop our overall work and ambitions within sustainability and at the same time manage our brand. Earlier, I’ve worked with communication at Greencarrier for 10 years, which comes in very handy in my new role, as we need to communicate more about what we actually do (which is a lot!) within the field of sustainability so that our employees, customers and stakeholders increase their awareness and understanding of our work and common challenges.
Where do you find your work motivation?
– I often think that I have the best job in the world! I meet a lot of different people, both in our organization and among our customers and collaboration partners, each day, which inspires me a lot. I am also lucky to be able to devote my work time almost entirely to sustainability, and it makes me both motivated and proud that what I do each day at work, actually can make an impact on our common future. That goes well in hand with my personal values and I think that’s where and how I find my motivation.
Why do you think companies should invest in sustainable transport solutions?
– Why shouldn’t they? We have enough evidence already that the climate change must be taken seriously and we must act sooner rather than later. Global trade is not likely to stop in the near future, but we must ensure that we do it in a more sustainable way. I can also add that many sustainable solutions are actually cost saving.
Sustainable shipping is close to the heart of Greencarrier. Why is this so important?
– I am lucky enough to work full time with developing our ambitions within sustainability, these issues have always been close to my heart and I am happy to call myself a sustainability professional now. In my role I see that one of the major tasks for me is to ensure that our stakeholders (external and internal) get the knowledge and information they need to see what we do within sustainability, as well as to always push ourselves towards constant improvements within this area.
Which are the biggest challenges within the logistics industry according to you?
– One of the biggest challenges I see, is how we as an industry can live up to the UN Global Goals for sustainable development. We must act together, within the industry and together with our customers, to ensure a better tomorrow for ourselves and future generations. We will not reach that if we keep consuming and travelling the way we have – using up our fossil fuels like there’s no tomorrow. We all need to change our behavior and the logistics industry must find new and better solutions to service global trade.
Hi Minna Ruisaho, our Customer Service and Operations Director for Greencarrier Liner Agency in Finland! How did you first get involved with the world of shipping and logistics?
– I was studying international business in Finland and logistics was a natural place to work with global business and building networks. To work in the world of shipping, you can follow the global economic situation very near, since it has a natural impact to cargo flows overall the world.
What do you do at Greencarrier?
– I am in charge for the customer service and operations at Greencarier Liner Agency Finland. Within Greencarrier, I have been working in many different positions during my many years here.
Why do you think companies should invest in sustainable transport solutions?
– Sustainable solutions normally mean that is it the most economical solution as well. For sustainable solutions, normally the latest technology is used, which also saves energy. Global population is prognosed to increase with one billion persons up to 2030, being 8.6 billion people. At the same time, the standard of living is increasing in many countries worldwide, which both means a lot of more energy needed in the future and a drastic emission increase. Our global economy and companies need to take part to keep the increase of energy moderate.
Sustainable shipping is close to the heart of Greencarrier. Why is this so important?
– At Greencarrier Liner Agency, we work with a great principal called Evergreen Line. They have always been living up to their name and has been one of the first companies in global economy which has taken environment to its agenda. My contribution is to make sure that we share the knowledge about how sustainable solutions in the container transportation is compared to other transport methods in global business. It is in my role to combine the Greencarrier actions and Evergreen actions together.
Which are the biggest challenges within the logistics industry according to you?
– From a sustainable point of view, the most challenging is the global consumer trend. People are ordering consumer goods by e-commerce. Smaller door deliveries are increasing, but at the same time also the emissions are increasing. Smart technology solutions will be needed to minimize the environmental impact. We will both need solutions for sustainable transportation vehicles as well as cross company IT platforms to combine transportation needs in a more sustainable way.
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