Ever since it originated in 1970, Earth Day has been celebrated by more and more people around the world. From participating in a drum chain in Gabon, Africa to being one of thousands who gathered at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., everyone has their own way of celebrating Mother Earth on this very special day.
With increased attention being paid to environmental sustainability, carbon footprints and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, this year’s Earth Day is more significant than ever. It takes place on April 22nd, with more than one billion people in over 170 nations participating, according to the Earth Day Network (EDN), the nonprofit organization that coordinates Earth Day activities.
Invest in Our Planet
Earth Day is considered the largest secular civic event in the world, and this year’s theme is Invest in Our Planet and Build a Prosperous and Equitable Future. “This is the moment to change it all — the business climate, the political climate, and how we take action on climate,” EDN states. “Now is the time for the unstoppable courage to preserve and protect our health, our families, and our livelihoods.”
Unless businesses act now, EDN says climate change will more deeply damage economies, increase scarcity, drain profits and job prospects, and impact us all. Highlighting the direct correlation between sustainable business practices, share prices and business performance, the group says companies that develop strong environment, social and governance (ESG) standards have better profitability, stronger financials, happier employees and more resilient stock performance.
“Smart companies are discovering that it is no longer a choice between going green and growing long-term profits — sustainability is the path to prosperity,” it adds. “So for both humanitarian and business reasons, it is imperative that companies of all sizes take action and embrace the benefits of a green economy.”
Driving Change in Logistics
The transportation and logistics sector—and the companies that depend on it—is particularly well positioned to drive the kind of change that positively impacts the earth. Ultimately, sustainable logistics makes sense for the planet, for consumers, and for businesses themselves.
“In an era in which consumers are demanding that goods be delivered ever more quickly, the logistics of getting merchandise into customers’ hands is becoming increasingly complicated,” Vivian Wagner writes in E-Commerce Times. “Add to that the need to focus on sustainable, environmentally-friendly practices, and it’s clear there are unique and unprecedented challenges facing the logistics industry.”
DB Schenker couldn’t agree more. “We take our position as environmental stewards very seriously and leverage all tools, information and knowledge needed to make logistics decisions that deliver high impact to our customers while impacting the planet as minimally as possible,” said Polina Fox, Director Quality and Sustainability, USA. “This Earth Day, we’re proud to say we are ‘all in’ when it comes to driving meaningful change on this front.”
Demonstrating a Commitment to the Environment
In The Growing Importance of Sustainability in Supply Chains, BioCareSD’s Andrew Kirk writes about how climate experts across the globe have issued red alerts for businesses of all sizes to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprints. Concurrently, consumers want to buy from companies that demonstrate a commitment to the environment.
A good starting point for companies that want to improve their environmental commitments this Earth Day is to take a holistic look at the enterprise and identify any gaps where sustainable practices can easily be implemented (e.g., using smaller box sizes, recyclable packaging materials or fewer vehicles to transport goods).
Another good way for businesses to enhance sustainability is by diversifying their hiring practices. “In the supply chain industry, it’s invaluable to hire people with diverse backgrounds who approach logistics from unique points of view,” Kirk points out. “Hiring professionals with different specialties allows for fresh perspectives and an opportunity to innovate new and impactful strategies that tackle sustainability.”
