"If you want to get started with sustainability, you have to start somewhere"

In addition to connecting governments, knowledge institutions, and the business community, Connekt is also involved in various programs. One of these is the CO2 reduction program Lean & Green. We spoke with Jur Hofland of Rensa Family Company, one of the participants in the Lean & Green program.

Jur Hofland, sustainability coordinator at Rensa: “When we started, there was nothing but the Lean & Green Award; there were no stars back then.” Hofland describes Lean & Green with three words: connecting, facilitating, and inspiring.

“It was a very conscious choice to participate in the Lean & Green program,” says Hofland. “Among other things, we liked that the scope (transport and logistics) is small. That helps to maintain focus when you are still unfamiliar with sustainability.”

Rensa Family Company is the central service provider within Rensa Family, an international family business of wholesalers and service providers in the professional installation sector. The family business consists of 16 companies spread across the Netherlands, Germany, and Romania. The customers are professional installers; the suppliers are essentially all well-known brands within the installation world.

Future-proof

“We are a family business; that is in our DNA,” says Hofland. “As a family business, we think about our future-proofing. Not just for this world, but also so that the next generation can take over the company in a healthy state. We highly value sustainability, or future-proofing.” Hofland explains that there is no specific sustainability budget, but many departments often consider sustainable solutions. “For example, if processes need to be improved or investments made, many departments first consider whether there is a good sustainable alternative we can choose, even if it sometimes costs more money.”

If you want to get started with sustainability, you have to start somewhere. “The Lean & Green program has helped us tremendously along the way. This ultimately led to four Lean & Green stars. We were the second in the entire program to achieve four stars, and we are still very proud of that.”

Community

One of the pillars of the Lean & Green program is the community of participants, where collaboration and knowledge sharing are fundamental. According to Hofland, this community is ‘very important’ for achieving sustainability. “You can learn from each other and also motivate each other.” According to Hofland, it is also good that there are critical parties in the community who indicate from their own practice that certain things do not work.

The program also offers some flexibility. “There is an understanding of your practical situation. We are a wholesaler, not a transporter. So we deal with slightly different systems.”

Process optimization

According to Hofland, the name of the program was perfectly chosen. “The word ‘lean’ is at the front for a reason. You can already become more sustainable through process optimization.” This principle also helped to get his colleagues on board with the process. “For me, as a sustainability coordinator within Rensa, that was also a very good incentive.”

Maintaining value

For the future, Hofland believes it is important that the Lean & Green program continues to evolve and keeps an eye on what is happening in the sector. He thinks it is important that the label and the associated stars maintain their value. “That means you have to continue to offer enough of a challenge at the top—the frontrunners. But they shouldn't go too fast, so it doesn't become a kind of elite club. Sustainability belongs to all of us. At the bottom, you have to keep the threshold low enough for new participants to join.” Hofland believes that participants should also be monitored more closely. “Are you still worthy of your two stars? Or did you achieve them at the time and then do nothing more?"

Hofland advises Lean & Green to keep doing what they are good at. He thinks it is good that there is a program with that focus. “That is why we at Rensa chose Lean & Green in the first place.” He also thinks the community can still grow, as sustainability remains a topical subject. “I think there is still a lot to be gained in the transport world.” However, he emphasizes that quality comes before quantity, even in a program like Lean & Green.

Hofland concludes that he is a fan of the program. “That is really due to the way it is organized and how parties are involved. Also in the development of the program. It adds something to the sustainability of transport and logistics in the Netherlands and Europe.”

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