"Connekt initiative Lean & Green provides the energy and drive to continue making the logistics sector more sustainable"

Connekt is celebrating its 25th anniversary! Leon Simons, who has been involved with Connekt for many years, talks about his experiences. If he had to describe Connekt in three words, the words members, programs, and network are the first that come to mind.

Lean & Green is a Connekt initiative and the leading CO2 reduction program for logistics. In 2012, Moonen Packaging achieved its 1st Lean & Green star. Leon was then asked to participate in a think tank to develop the star program. At that time, nothing had been devised beyond the 1st Star. This is how Leon increasingly moved into the sustainability field and became more active within Connekt and Lean & Green.

Enthusiastic

“Whenever I attended Lean & Green sessions back then, I always came away with energy and ideas. You talk to like-minded people, get the tools to actually take steps toward sustainability, and gain a different insight into your data. Because the KPIs I needed to achieve Lean & Green Stars were not ones I had used before.” Leon was very enthusiastic. “I always said at the time: ‘If I ever leave Moonen, I’m going to work at Connekt’.”

And so it happened. In the autumn of 2015, the climate summit took place in Paris. Connekt was there to present what the Lean & Green Europe program means in practice. Leon went along as a ‘company spokesperson’. “That turned out to be quite a memorable day; it was a truly wonderful experience.” Immediately afterward, Leon resigned from Moonen and started his own business. In March 2016, he began his first assignment at Connekt, focusing on CO2 calculation and allocation. In the years that followed, he remained active at Connekt in various roles, including interim program manager for Lean & Green Europe.

Lean & Green stars

Lean & Green works with a 5-Star framework to reduce CO2. According to Leon, the 1st Star is basically achievable for everyone. The 1st Star is about insight and low-hanging fruit. “The moment you have the first Star, you get a hunger to take the next step.” The program builds up. You achieve the 1^st Star as an organization alone. For the 2nd Star, you need to collaborate with your customers, and for the 3rd Star, you need the entire chain.

That is something the program has evolved in over the years. “Collaboration has become more important. There is a much stronger focus on that.” But in other areas too, it is no longer the Lean & Green of 2010. The way of working and the action plans have been sharpened over time. “Lean & Green has truly changed in both content and form. The program has become more robust. It’s no longer a paper tiger, but an online platform you can actually work with. It’s a lot more professional and completely in line with the present day.”

International

Lean & Green also became an international program, now active in sixteen countries. “It’s no longer just a Dutch affair; it’s a mature organization in many countries.” This arose from the demand of several participants who wanted to obtain certificates in multiple countries. After all, transport and logistics do not end at national borders.

The Netherlands is a frontrunner in the program, Leon says. To remain relevant, it is essential to keep developing. “The world is changing. Lean & Green Netherlands will have to innovate to continue demonstrating its value.” For Leon, this value lies in helping companies further through the knowledge and experience of all participants. For the future, he believes it is important to look at new ways of working, new insights, and new KPIs. “The Netherlands has a leading role. We are entrepreneurial as a nation and keen to develop things. I think Lean & Green should try to maintain that.”

Moving forward

According to Leon, the Lean & Green program helps both companies and people move forward. “When you join the Lean & Green program, you enter a group of like-minded people. That’s where you see collaborations emerge. You get energy, ideas, and a hunger to go further.” But people also progress. “You get to know other people, learn to think in a different way, and learn to tap into a whole new network.” Lean & Green helps logistics companies move forward in their sustainability steps. Exactly as Connekt’s role often lies in practical application.

Would you like to know more about Connekt's 25th anniversary?

Then visit our special theme page 25 years of Connekt!