Samantha Wood, a Customer Service Specialist within the Ocean Freight team at DB Schenker, a prominent logistics and supply chain provider, is leading the way in environmentally-friendly operations, by enrolling on the “Minimising the environmental impact of logistics operations” course, available through the GMCA Skills for Growth training programme.
Outlining her motivations for choosing the course, Samantha explained: “Our carbon footprint is very important to me. More and more of our customers are aware of the impact that importing and exporting is having on the environment. I want to have a greater understanding of the role that I have in this process and the impact we’re having globally.”
Samantha also discussed the steps that DB Schenker are already making to reduce emissions: “We’re rolling out a platform which shows customers how to calculate the environmental impact their specific shipment will have. On top of this, there are more biofuels being used on the big carriers, we’re going to start using what’s called ‘slow steam’ and increasing transit times on their schedules. We’ve also entered into two contracts with two carriers who are using low-emission fuels, which all proves that Schenker are very aware of the issue and the impact they have as a business and that they want to give customers the option to choose a less harmful method of shipping goods.”
There is still an appreciation that more can be done though, and Samantha completing the specialist course can only help to facilitate that: “Anything that I learn, I can pass on to the company. I’m hoping more and more of my colleagues enrol on to the course as it is so relevant to what we do day-to-day. It’s not going to be an overnight process, but this change has to be at the forefront for logistics and supply chain suppliers like us.”
Samantha also mentioned that she hopes what she learns on the course will apply outside of her work responsibilities and that she can pick up tips for her everyday life: “Environmental impact is a big consideration in everything we do, with things such as water usage at home and having a more fuel-efficient car being something we discuss as a family. Anything that I gain from the course, I will be passing on to my children and my husband! Climate change and pollution are not things that anyone can ignore, it’s not going to go away unless we all make a commitment to do something about it.”
Finally, Samantha explained why she would encourage anyone working in the logistics industry to join the course: “This is so relevant, both within our industry, and in everyday life. I think that its possible to feel a sense of detachment when working from home as you’re not seeing these shipping containers on a daily basis, but we’re all having an impact on the environment one way or another.”
To find out more about the environmental impact course or all the Skills for Growth courses, click the link here.
* Skills for Growth is funded through the European Social Fund and aims to plug the skills gaps in priority sectors across Greater Manchester as outlined in the Combined Authority’s Local Industrial Strategy.
