‘Sustainability and cost reduction’
Greenhouse Sustainability is broadening its reach beyond horticulture, making significant strides in various sectors. A key partner in this effort is Lekkerland Netherlands, a specialist in on-the-go consumption. The company has not only calculated its own carbon footprint but also developed a special customer dashboard to allocate CO2 volumes to specific clients.
Lekkerland operates as both a wholesaler and a logistics service provider, focusing on on-the-go consumption for petrol stations and retail stores. With three distribution centers in the Netherlands, the company can supply its customers regionally. “We manage inventories and deliver to stores,” says Olga den Boer, Sustainability Manager at Lekkerland and co-responsible for the ESG strategy (Environment, Social, and Governance). “We first encountered sustainability in 2012 through Lean & Green, a CO2 reduction program in logistics. Since then, we have continued to advance our sustainability efforts.”
Since 2012, Lekkerland Netherlands has calculated its CO2 footprint based on fuel consumption, electricity, and gas. With the help of Greenhouse Sustainability, more categories have been included in the calculation. “We connected through a customer who worked with Greenhouse Sustainability on a climate-positive food concept for one of their brands. They then asked us to do an extensive footprint calculation to understand their position better. Together with Greenhouse Sustainability, we calculated our footprint for 2022 and have now done the same for 2023.”
Identifying Challenges
During the footprint calculation, additional categories were included, such as the impact of waste and packaging. “We didn’t have insight into those before,” Den Boer explains. “Greenhouse Sustainability also developed a customer dashboard, allowing us to assign CO2 volumes to specific clients based on volume. This dashboard is very valuable because it meets our customers' needs. We can show where the biggest challenges are and help clients address them. For example, we can demonstrate the CO2 impact of reducing delivery days. We also aim to be transparent about our own environmental impact. With many trucks on the road, the detailed footprint calculation gives us insight into our impact, enabling us to make the right choices to achieve significant CO2 reductions.”
Den Boer has found the collaboration with Greenhouse Sustainability to be very positive from the beginning. “Communication is straightforward; we can always connect one-on-one, and they actively think along with us about processes and solutions. Greenhouse Sustainability's approach is also highly customized. There is a lot of flexibility to tailor their methods to fit your organization as well as possible.” Den Boer encourages other companies to take similar steps. “A footprint calculation confirms what you already know but also provides new insights for the future. We want to go further by reviewing our footprint quarterly instead of annually. This makes it easier to manage within the organization. It’s not just about gaining insights; you need to act on them.”
Embracing Sustainability: win-win
Sustainability has become integral to Lekkerland Netherlands' business strategy. "We aim to take responsibility as a logistics service provider and food wholesaler," says Den Boer. "It's a win-win: enhancing our sustainability not only reduces costs but also strengthens our position as a top wholesaler in the market. Our employees find great satisfaction in contributing to social and environmental causes, going beyond mere profit. Prioritizing sustainability is crucial to attracting young talent, as the new generation places growing importance on ethical business practices."