Ricoh gets CO2 emissions delivered on a silver platter

With Big Mile, CO2 emissions are visualized in an accessible way. Ricoh in Bergen op Zoom has installed the tool. “With BigMile at hand, we can start a constructive conversation with our partners.”

A year ago Stef Jacobs, transport specialist at Ricoh Europe Supply Chain, searched for a party that could help him. His question was very simple. Ricoh wanted to work on reducing the CO2 emissions of their outsourced transport. The target was at least 15 percent by 2030. But how does a shipper – a distributor of printers, copiers and other office supply – ensure that you gain insights into your shipments; and that management receives this data in order to act on it?

In search of a new solution

“Actually, the solution was much closer to home than we thought,” Jacobs says. He had already been taking a closer look at various international parties. In search for a tool that helps to accurately and accessible map the CO2 emissions as a result of transport. Jacobs ended up at Connekt via Evofenedex and Districon. In the context of the Lean & Green program an instrument had been developed that provided an answer to his question. Various parties had already become acquainted with it. But a shipper like Ricoh in particular fitted in perfectly with the final development.

Why BigMile?

Jacobs: “There are a few reasons. It is of course obvious that this system does exactly what we intend to do, which is to provide data that gives us insight into the CO2 emissions. It is not an extensive product that supports CO2 reduction in every possible way, but is fully aimed at transport. In addition, we will have the opportunity to further develop this tool together, which is beneficial for Ricoh. ”

How to handle this?

Often, the biggest task is to bring the right datasets together. This is necessary to, at a later stage, be able to zoom in as detailed as possible on a specific transport. From the total CO2 footprint, you can use BigMile to zoom in more and more to the level of one shipment at a specific moment. This way you can make all kinds of analyzes and look into the results from different perspectives.

Jacobs: “The correct data is certainly crucial. But what we don’t want is to be constantly at the desk of our IT department to come up with useful data sets. We have to get that from our own systems with data, which is automatically stored in a file and then picked up by BigMile. The challenge was not to find the right data, but how do you get it automated in the tool. We developed that format together, after we developed our supply chain in a model. ”

Where are you at now?

Jacobs: “The translation has been made in such a way that we no longer have to enter anything manually. We managed to deliver the first analyzes before the turn of the year. Those tests were successful. This means that we now have made a start by introducting it into our systems to get used to using BigMile. From than it is a matter of optimization. Our data will not always be pure, which will lead to deviations. The advantage of BigMile is that the tool detects this. This way we can point this out to the specific organizations that their data might not be correct. At the end of March we want to complete the implementation process and will report officially to the management in a way they understand. ”

Why not just request the data from carriers?

Jacobs: “At fitst, that was indeed the idea. But fifty different transporters come up with fifty different calculations of their CO2 emissions. What is the truth then? We cannot check ourselves. Now we are able to rely on our own data. It might not match the most acurate truth about the actual emissions, but it is unambiguous. And it is also enough to find out what is happening; even if it is on the basis of assumptions, which are otherwise widely applied and accepted. ”

It is an approach that is comparable to what is done within Lean & Green. First you measure what you have and then you look for better data in consultation with carrier partners. This is why there are different levels within the measurments, from assumptions to real-time information. BigMile helps companies to take steps together with their carriers to improve data quality.

Jacobs: “We really see the introduction of Big Mile as a starting point for starting the dialogue with our carrier partners. They have the best possible data. Providing it to us, completed the picture. At that point we can also see what the development are at the hauliers, for example if they invest in new, cleaner trucks or contribute in some other way to our sustainability goals. ”