Case |GEBA Trans

The challenge

GEBA Trans has been active as a forwarding agent and as a sustainably-operating supply chain coordinator in the world of international transport and logistics since 1996. In 2010, GEBA Trans asked Climate Neutral Group to get the organisation fit and trim for the Green Care Transport programme initiated by the SCA Group and for the Lean&Green Award presented by Connekt.

Our contribution

During our ‘Business Lab’ workshop, the present business model of GEBA Trans was examined. In this workshop the participants reviewed the possibilities of modifying this model in ways that would preserve the flexibility of GEBA Trans as a forwarding agent, while allowing it to contribute to the significant shift to sustainability taking place in the transport sector. Because GEBA Trans does not have its own vehicle fleet, being a forwarding agent, and because the transport companies with which it works are, in some cases, its customers in one respect and its competitors in another, this proved to be a rather complex exercise, but it was ultimately successful. In our role as Sustainability Coach, we then assisted in the more detailed design of the new proposal, and its implementation.

The result

GEBA Trans was the first forwarding agent to be admitted to the Green Care Transport programme initiated by the SCA Group. In the spring of 2011, GEBA Trans also competed for the Lean & Green Award, and with success! GEBA Trans can now offer consignors a climate-friendly transport product that is still competitive with conventional suppliers. And they have not had to sacrifice the flexibility or reliability that characterise a forwarding agent.

One unique outcome has been the calculation and reward model developed by GEBA Trans. Transporters who have adopted a climate-friendly policy can use this model for further investments in innovations, with the goal of achieving sustainable logistics. The savings and extra income that this yields are reinvested to promote increasing sustainability among transport operators. This all enables GEBA Trans to keep its trend-setting position, and at the same time assures them of strong and stead demand from their customers.

A word from GEBA Trans

“Climate Neutral Group is helping us to translate our ambition of becoming a sustainable supply chain manager into concrete products, and also to connect with initiatives that are relevant for us, such as the Green Care Transport programme and the Lean & Green Award.”

Fred Spijksma
Director and Owner of GEBA Trans