Green technologies is the latest trendy subject.
For anyone involved in logistics or supply chain management, green technologies is indeed the next issue (surely because they are the first in line concerned by the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions). Environmental friendliness is clearly investment worthy for anyone involved in the subject (carriers, real estate investors, shippers, builders).
I knew there was an index (the Dow Jones Sustainability Index), yet, I didn’t know there was an award for that !!
Our canadian friends invented it: they came out with a brand new SCL (supply chain and logistics)Green Supply Chain Award. that acknowledge that recipients operate in an ethical manner and actively seek ways to improve environmental performance. I don’t know this type of award in France, is there one ?
nota bene: The 2007 award recipients are J.D. Smith and Sons Ltd. and logistics division of UPM-Kymmene. Both have set and exceeded high standards for environmental friendliness in the handling and shipment of their products to customers.
Certainly not ! Even if, a good supply chain requires a smooth flow of goods via various networks, it would be crazy to compare logistics to a long quiet river !!!! UNLESS….. unless we take into account the great challenge of the coming years towards the improvement of multimodal networks such as WATERWAYS.
Much literature exists about the subject on the web, yet, I prefer to pinpoint a few examples I read about during my “long quiet summer break”:
. Sainsbury’s intention to include the River Thames in its distribution network (according to the Financial Times, the company made a 1-week trial in July for the transportation of goods and came to the conclusion that goods could be moved faster by water that on London’s roads: “”The trial proved there are alternatives [to road] for us to be more efficient as a business, environmentally sustainable, and cause less congestion,” said Roger Burnley, Sainsbury’s supply chain director.)
. Auchan France group is the 1rst carrier in France to use the river network for about 60% of its importation of boxes.
. Renault’s decision to use waterways for half of the exportation (Europe excluded) of its boxes from the Rouen platform to Le Havre seaport.
. Monoprix uses waterways for 85% of its “great importation” of goods.
. and many more…
In France, the waterway networks represent about 1/3 of the combined networks (sea, rail, river, road) and traffic on river has been increasing by 50% during the last 10 years, this is quite promising for the years to come.
This is the nice story of a carrier who knows what he wants and how to obtain it.
The DERET group has obtained the approval of the city of Laval and the county council of Mayenne to develop a logistic platform (rail and road) at Argentré (on the eastern side of Laval, in between Rennes and Le Mans) and above all to have two major road constructions:
. a highway exit
. a rail connection
DERET group will use 60ha first. The group is located in Orleans (further east) and is strongly developping itself. more information : http://www.deret.fr/
Good combination of industry and local authorities !
According to a recent (July 18th) article from the French newspaper Les Echos, 67% of the demand for logistics platforms was located within the corridor Lille-Paris-Lyon-Marseille during the first half of 2007. Investing in logistics platforms is again this year an excellent deal.
67% ? this makes about 2/3rd of the demand for logistics platforms. Where is the other 1/3rd ? I bet it is further West !
This is just the great story of Graveleau (Dachser group) located in Western France, at La Verrie and increasing its turnover drastically at international level (+7.6% in 2006)
Of course, being part of the German group Dachser is surely a great booster and this is maybe why the Western France company is investing all over Europe in new logistics platforms.
Western France may not be the nerve center of all logistics flow that cross France, yet it hosts many transport companies with among them great international leaders !
DHL announced recently that it was selected as one of the 4 top finalists at the 2007 American Business Awards (also known as the “Stevie Awards”). It received the award in the ‘Best Human Resources Team’ category, and was the only company recognized for its achievements in sales training.
Isn’t that great that a logistics company (you are right, one of the leaders in global express delivery and logistics) win this award ?
This definitely shows that logistics is the global service, the leading cross-sectorial service of the 21rst century.
Our brand new Prime Minister, Mr. François Fillon, gave a speech during the LA BAULE WORLD INVESTMENT CONFERENCE last week and addressed the foreign investors with great enthousiasm: “I am eager to give you any opportunities to invest in Europe and particularly in France. We are going to do everything in our power to make you feel comfortable with our legal and regulatory framework….. French people are back at work, a new era has begun. France is ready for action.”
Supported by the British investor Gazeley, Conforama chose Beaulieu sur Layon near Angers to set up a 31 000sq.meters logistic platform. The transport and logistic company is Kuehne + Nagel. the Kuehne + Nagel group is closely involved with Conforama and supports the development of the retailer’s new supply chain strategy.
The building should be ready by mid 2008. The investment is about 14.5 million euros and will help Conforama to distribute the Conforama stores of Western France.
This regional platform is part of the 5 regional platforms of Conforama in France. This is good news for Western France.
More info about Gazeley
More info about Kuehne + Nagel
More info about Conforama, a PPR company, second largest retailer worldwide and no. 1 in France, specialised in furnishing and home appliances.
A very special international conference is taking place this week within Western France, in the sea-side resort LA BAULE. It is the LA BAULE World Investment Conference. The theme for this year is green technologies. Some 500 CEOs of around the world will be here. As far as logistics is concerned, there will be people from Gazeley and Prologis who will talk about environment and logistics platforms.
Applied to logistics, the theme of environment makes me think more precisely about a very special French cluster (or club) I know, called the “club demeter” that is especially focused on environmental issues applied to logistics and that gathers industries, carriers, investors and transporters. The organization and working process of this club is exemplary and I wish this could be extended to our regions.
more info about the club demeter
more info about the LA BAULE WIC
If everything goes well, about 500 jobs should be created by 2012 within the 33ha logistic park GECINA just got from the “communauté de communes” of Sablé sur Sarthe near Le Mans. The Ouest Park is located in between Le Mans and La Flèche, down south of Le Mans near the highway A11 on the western part.
