They say money makes the world go round – but there is no business on a dead planet! For our planet to continue to thrive, we need to focus on the environment. Our vision is to be top of mind for sustainable transport solutions. To get one step closer to that vision, we have implemented a supplier evaluation at Greencarrier Freight Services.
Ensuring the quality and environmental work of our suppliers
The purpose of the supplier evaluation is to ensure the quality and environmental work of our suppliers. Our suppliers function as our extended arms and legs as they move our customers’ goods on behalf of us. By carrying out a supplier evaluation, we can ensure that our suppliers follow the prevailing rules and regulations for quality and environment. Only then, we can guarantee our customers that their goods are being transported in a correct and eco-friendly way, and they can feel safe.
Screening and evaluating the potential supplier
Our suppliers are acquired through a procurement process consisting of an initial screening of the potential supplier. In the evaluation process, the supplier answers a questionnaire sent out by us containing questions about how the supplier works and complies with different quality and environmental issues. It includes laws and regulations for quality, environmental guidelines and standards, ISO certifications and European emission standards as well as transport permits and insurances.
We also look into economical aspects and investigate whether the supplier pays the correct taxes and social tariffs, and if there are any risks for bankruptcy, liquidation or forced receivership. Because, in the long run, an economically troubled supplier is not very sustainable neither when it comes to quality nor the environment.
We are happy to cooperate with green-labeled suppliers
Depending on the answers provided, the supplier receives a label for its quality and environmental work. The labels are categorised in the colours green, yellow, and grey. If a supplier has received a green label, it means the supplier is well approved, and we are more than happy to cooperate with them. If the label is yellow, it means the supplier is approved but still has a few things to improve, which we encourage them to. However, if the label is grey, the supplier is not approved, and we rather not work with them – unless they do some radical changes to their quality and environmental work.
In other words, we reward the suppliers that are the “greenest”. But we don’t do this to topple our suppliers. On the contrary, we do this to help them. In addition to us wanting to be able to guarantee our customers that their goods are being transported in a correct and eco-friendly way, evaluating our suppliers also brings them a lot of benefits – not least economical.
Sustainability equals economy
Because there is an economic aspect to sustainability. Today, we live in a consumer society where companies are so focused on making as much money as possible until the next quarter, so that the shareholders can get maximum return on their investment. We need to move away from this way of thinking! There is a common misunderstanding that sustainability is expensive. However, this is not the case. The more sustainable a company becomes across all levels of the organisation, the more economical benefits it will gain – in the long run as well as the short run. We must begin to understand that sustainability is something that strongly benefits our economy and the society as a whole.
Increased environmental awareness and higher customer demands
Luckily, we are already starting to see this happening, not least among our customers. Over the past few years, we have noticed an increased environmental awareness, and today, our customers put much higher demands on our transport and logistics solutions. This is a very positive trend! Unfortunately, there are still some issues today, for example on the roads, with truck drivers drinking and driving, loading their trucks incorrectly, and going in the wrong drive lane. An increased environmental awareness and higher pressure on transport and logistics companies will not only contribute to a more sustainable planet and a better economy, but also help minimise the risk of accidents and increase the overall safety.
I hope that our customers will feel proud of working with a freight forwarder that takes responsibility for quality and environment throughout the supply chain. Our supplier evaluation is only one part of our comprehensive sustainability work. Visit our website to read more about what we do for the environment and our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!
