The logistics industry is seeing companies integrate sustainability into their core operations, beyond meeting regulatory demands – reflecting a growing recognition that sustainable practices drive operational efficiencies, cost savings and long-term resilience.
Fardeen Malbarwala, Director of Galaxy Freight, emphasized the need for a holistic approach: “Sustainability in freight is no longer about incremental changes. We must adopt systems thinking, where every decision—from sourcing materials to optimizing routes—contributes to reducing emissions and waste.
“Customers and regulators are demanding accountability, and it’s up to us to deliver.”
Alternative strategies
With aviation and shipping responsible for significant greenhouse gas emissions, the adoption of sustainable fuels such as biofuels, synthetic fuels and hydrogen is gaining momentum.
Capt. Atuldutt Sharma, Managing Director – India and Head of Sales for Hoegh Autoliners, elaborated on the potential of alternative fuels and their implementation: “Shipping and air cargo must transition to cleaner energy sources.
“At Hoegh Autoliners, we are investigating the use of biofuels and experimenting with wind-assisted propulsion to reduce carbon intensity. While the adoption of alternative fuels entails high upfront costs, the long-term benefits for the environment and operational efficiency are undeniable.”
Green innovations
Air cargo, which plays a critical role in global supply chains, faces unique challenges in reducing its environmental impact. From electrified ground operations to optimized runways, airlines are exploring a range of measures to reduce their carbon footprint.
Shankar Iyer, Director Sales and Handling South Asia at Lufthansa Cargo, spoke about the airline’s efforts to incorporate sustainability into its operations: “We have implemented several initiatives, such as the optimization of flight loads, the adoption of fuel-efficient aircraft and the integration of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) into our operations.
“Lufthansa Cargo is committed to achieving a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050.”
Digitization and data-driven
Technology emerged during the discussion as another crucial mediator of sustainability. From predictive analytics to blockchain for supply chain transparency, digital tools are helping companies identify inefficiencies and implement greener practices.
Samit Datta, Global Chief Supply Chain & Technology Officer at PGP Glass said: “Data-driven insights enable us to pinpoint emission hotspots and address them with precision. For example, AI-powered route optimization tools can significantly reduce fuel consumption. Blockchain technology improves transparency in supply chains, ensuring that sustainability claims are credible and verifiable.”
Cooperation and the circular economy
The panel emphasized that achieving sustainability goals requires collaboration across the supply chain. Companies must work with suppliers, customers and logistics providers to implement practices that minimize waste and promote resource efficiency.
Subodh Nagarsekar, Vice President – Procurement and Supply Chain at Rentokil Initial, explained the concept of the circular economy: “The adoption of circular practices – such as reusing materials, recycling waste and designing products for longevity – can significantly reduce the environmental impact.
“At Rentokil Initial, we actively engage with our supply chain partners to ensure that sustainability is embedded at every stage of the product life cycle.”
Operational efficiency with environmental objectives
For many companies, the challenge lies in balancing operational efficiency with environmental goals. The optimization of logistics networks, the reduction of empty kilometers and the utilization of multimodal transport are some of the strategies implemented to achieve this balance.
Dhritiman Chakraborty, Director Operations at Ingram Micro, spoke about the importance of operational efficiency and asserted: “Sustainability cannot come at the expense of operational performance.
“By integrating green logistics practices—such as consolidating shipments and prioritizing energy-efficient transportation methods—we achieve both environmental and business goals. This dual focus is critical to long-term success.”
Look out
While the progress is promising, the panelists acknowledged that the road to net zero is fraught with challenges. High costs of sustainable fuels, lack of infrastructure and fragmented regulatory frameworks remain significant obstacles.
“Sustainability requires a collective effort – not just within the industry, but across policymakers, technology providers and consumers,” Malbarwala noted.
“Only through collaboration can we overcome the obstacles and ensure that sustainability becomes the new norm, rather than the exception.”
