going, going... green!

Photo: Zeina

“There is no Planet B” - These alarming words from UN Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-Moon are like a jarring wakeup call on the status of our earth’s health today. Our world’s resources are fast depleting, resulting in more violent natural disasters and animal species turning into ghosts of the past almost every minute.

The time is NOW to make the effort to come together to counter and reverse the harsh effects created by humans. If your choice is to hit the snooze button and think the earth is going to heal itself (just give it some time), then we strongly suggest you get in on Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic space exploration program for only USD200 million. Extra charges for seat belts and luggage space…

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For the rest of us who have woken up, we are making it our fundamental and vital duty to protect nature and the environment. Yes, it is undeniable that the logistics industry is infamously known for the amount of resources used throughout the whole process - from the paper used in shipping documents, operational checklists, and packaging, to fuel consumption, and so on.​

Extra charge for space shuttle seat belts?

As such, logistics companies are continuously refining what they do and how they do it to make things more eco-friendly. ​

Since 2005, CMA-CGM which is currently the world’s third largest shipping company, has been tweaking their tools of the trade. With options ranging from removing the usage of unsustainable plant material from the flooring altogether, using light steel containers which saves 550kg in weight while preserving its structural qualities (so less fuel is used to move the ships), to providing their customers with a CO2 emissions calculator and report to help them precisely calculate the carbon footprint of a voyage.

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In the greater atmosphere, another inspiring company is Huhtamaki, a global food and drink packaging company. This industry is very heavy on the usage of water & paper, and through a culture of innovation & efficiency, they aim to make the most efficient use of natural resources, showing a great respect for the world we are in.
 
The company developed Greenest®, an egg tray made from 50% natural grass and 50% recycled paper fibre. The grass which is usually burnt by farmers clearing land is now put to much better use.
 
Did you know, in 2015, the UK alone consumed 12,536 million egg – imagine how many eggs are eaten in America, Asia and the rest of the EU! That would have been a lot of trees chopped down to produce all those egg trays. 

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As for Alien Logistics, technology has allowed us to use as little paper as possible by transmitting and storing shipping documents and invoices electronically - and requesting the same from our suppliers.

And unless specifically required, we will always use recycled cardboard as packaging materials for our customers.  But more than just the operational aspects of our work, being green is also a part of our lives – from personal commitments to recycling and carpooling or taking public transport for work and extracurricular activities, each of us in our own little way tries to make a lifestyle change for the better.
 
We’re very excited and hopeful about the future of going green. These efforts may seem like small steps but when moving in the right direction can be the biggest step towards major changes in preserving our planet.

Again, there is no Planet B. Let’s all do our best to preserve Earth for generations to come. Happy Earth Day! 

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