Transforming Logistics Through Solid Procurement

Elon Musk's cautionary statement – "we are running the most dangerous experiment in history right now, which is to see how much carbon dioxide the atmosphere can handle before there is an environmental catastrophe" – serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address carbon emissions across industries. 

In logistics, Scope 3 emissions, which encompass indirect emissions from the supply chain, account for an estimated 40-50% of total emissions. This reality presents a formidable challenge for procurement professionals striving to minimise environmental impact.

For procurement teams, tackling Scope 3 emissions is both a challenge and an opportunity. Professionals operating in this space are uniquely positioned to drive reductions throughout the value chain. 

Integrating Scope 3 considerations into procurement strategies transcends environmental responsibility; it becomes an imperative part of the strategy that fosters risk mitigation, cost savings and a competitive edge.

Collaborating with logistics suppliers

Green Worldwide Shipping, a logistics company operating across the Americas, is a model for how businesses in the sector can successfully integrate sustainability into their operations. By combining efficient global shipping practices with a solid commitment to environmental stewardship, the company offers a blueprint for environmentally-conscious procurement strategies.

Anne Shudy Palmer, Director of Sustainability at Green Worldwide Shipping, highlights the company's dedication to ethical and sustainable practices, stating: "We are committed to the bigger picture – that is, to protect the environment, address our customers' needs and wants, but more importantly, to provide a service that is ethical in line with global regulations." 

It’s a commitment that is reflected in Green Worldwide Shipping’s diverse offerings, which include multimodal transportation, customs brokerage and trade-related services.

Acknowledging the complexities faced by its customers, Greg Bollefer, EVP of Commercial & Product Development at Green Worldwide Shipping, calls sustainability “an evolving challenge”. 

However, through its approach, Green Worldwide Shipping not only addresses the immediate needs of customers but demonstrates how logistics companies can align operational efficiency with long-term environmental goals. Its efforts provide a practical framework for procurement teams seeking to integrate sustainability into their own supply chain strategies.

Green Worldwide Shipping prioritises sustainability in its operations under Anne's leadership. She manages initiatives that embed eco-conscious practices within the company. The effort includes overseeing the Green Action Team, a group with representatives from every branch promoting recycling and energy conservation practices. Although events like Earth Day celebrations foster awareness, the team supports branches in making sustainability-conscious decisions a reality daily.

Anne's work ensures that the company's offerings are both practical and transparent. Through tools like Green Check and partnerships, Green Worldwide Shipping helps customers visualise and reduce transport emissions, aligning logistics operations with global sustainability goals.

Commitment to transparency

Transparency is central to Green Worldwide Shipping's sustainability strategy, which strongly focuses on Scope 3 emissions, particularly upstream transportation. 

"We are freight forwarders first and foremost, which means that our laser focus is on Scope 3, Category 4, upstream transportation," Anne explains.

Emissions calculations for each shipment adhere to ISO 14083 standards and the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) framework. The metrics are shared openly with customers, appearing on invoices and through quarterly reports. 

"We publish these emissions calculations on every customer invoice to increase the shipment visibility," Anne notes.

Additionally, partnerships with organisations like the UPLIFT Agency expand customer support. 

"The partnership extends support beyond upstream transportation," Anne continues, offering broader insights into managing supply chain sustainability.

Green Check: A tool for actionable insights

The proprietary Green Check tool enables customers to visualise emissions geographically. 

"Our Green Check tool is a proprietary platform that lets customers visualise their transport emissions geographically," Anne says. 

By mapping high-impact routes, the tool identifies areas for improvement and supports customers in designing more efficient shipping schedules.

Green Check offers tailored solutions for customers exploring new trade lanes. 

"We analyse all routes and, where possible, find alternate, more efficient ones," Anne goes on. 

Overall, the platform balances environmental, logistical and financial considerations.

Industry leadership through SmartWay

As a certified EPA SmartWay Transport Partner, Green Worldwide Shipping is committed to reducing freight emissions. 

"We engage with our current truckers and new partners to encourage them to join SmartWay," says Anne. 

Reporting metrics like tonnage shipped and mileage enhances freight efficiency and aligns with environmental goals.

Anne reinforces the global reach of the firm’s sustainability strategy. Collaborating with the Aviation Logistics Network (ALN), the company integrates local expertise for international shipments. 

At a recent ALN meeting, Anne shared insights on transport emissions reduction strategies: “We are continuing discussions with interested members to drive further action."

Decarbonising transport through book-and-claim

Green Worldwide Shipping also accelerates decarbonisation through book-and-claim methodologies.

"These alliances funnel funds to decarbonise heavy transport faster than carriers could manage on their own," Anne says.

The company participates in initiatives like the Smart Freight Center's guidance for sustainable fuel certificates. It educates customers on leveraging book-and-claim to declare environmental benefits before zero-emission technologies become mainstream.

A holistic sustainability vision

Green Worldwide Shipping's approach extends beyond carbon emissions. 

Anne outlines the company's vision: "By 2050, we aim to be one of the world's most sustainable and responsible transportation and logistics companies." 

A key aspect of this vision is addressing issues like forced labour in the transportation sector.

"We're actively involved with organisations like the US Department of Transportation's Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking Program," Anne adds, stressing the importance of education in helping partners recognise the risks of labour exploitation.

Green Worldwide Shipping champions holistic sustainability through these efforts, encompassing environmental, social and operational responsibility.

Greg leads Green Worldwide Shipping's new product development, focusing on sustainability and freight-forwarding solutions. His role includes steering the company's commercial strategies and ensuring customers' supply chains are enhanced through tailored innovative logistics operations. 

By aligning product development with sustainability goals, Greg drives the company's growth and positions it as a leader in eco-conscious logistics.

Pioneering emissions reduction with Green Check

Green Worldwide Shipping's proprietary Green Check software is a cornerstone of its sustainability efforts. 

"We developed Green Check in-house," explains Greg. "It maps our customers' supply chains – what they're moving, how much and where – then applies precise calculations to determine CO2 output based on transportation modes like air, ocean or truck."

Unlike competitors which emphasise carbon offsets, Green Check focuses on mitigation. "Offsets are part of the tools we can access, but our goal is to reduce emissions at the source," Greg continues. 

By consolidating shipments, adjusting transit schedules or selecting efficient trade lanes, the tool can achieve emissions reductions of up to 50% under ideal conditions and 20–25% in typical scenarios. 

"The best part," Greg goes on, “is that these reductions often come without impacting cost or transit time, especially for ocean freight.”

Optimising trade lanes with data-driven insights

A key feature of Green Check is its ability to map supply chains and identify high-emission trade lanes. 

"We take a customer's freight concentrations and focus on mitigating their heaviest areas of movement," details Greg. 

Using advanced analytics, Green Check generates heat maps pinpointing CO2 hotspots, allowing customers to explore alternatives.

"Our analytics show exact routes, including the difference between vessels 10 years old and those built in the last two or three years," Greg notes. 

These insights enable significant emissions reductions by opting for newer, more efficient vessels and trade lanes.

Collaboration beyond corporate boundaries

Greg points out that sustainability extends beyond emissions reduction. 

Programmes like Truckers Against Trafficking align with Green Worldwide Shipping's values-driven mission. 

"It's not just about emissions," asserts Greg. "These programmes combine all the right elements and make sense as a business to support."

Greg reinforces the importance of collaboration and partnerships: "We've engaged with organisations like SmartWay and the Global Compact for over 14 years. Sustainability requires collaboration – even with competitors – to drive industry-wide change. The challenge is bigger than any single company.

“Our Green Check tool is available for everyone. If someone can improve on what we've done and drive greater change, we welcome it.”

Simplifying supply chain emissions reporting

Green Worldwide Shipping's Green Check tool simplifies supply chain emissions reporting. 

Built on the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) framework, it provides pre-approved, reportable data tailored to customers' annual reporting needs. "Everything we've developed – our calculations, equations and methodologies – is built on the GLEC framework," Greg continues. 

The Green Check tool also focuses on accessibility and uses visuals to make complex data intuitive. 

"Accompanying visuals make the data easier to understand and act on," Greg adds, highlighting its role in streamlining emissions management.

In-house innovation driving results.

Green Check's proprietary nature truly sets it apart. 

"The software is entirely ours – developed in-house, hosted on our servers and fully under our control," Greg says. 

The system integrates standard industry data, reformats it through multiple APIs and presents actionable insights to customers.

Ultimately, Green Worldwide Shipping empowers customers to make informed decisions by centralising data and transforming it into user-friendly visualisations. 

Greg concludes: “It's about making a better planet and world for the people we serve.”

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