FROM MAGAZINE: To the new digital future

Sustainable programmes and a well coordinated digitalisation projects are making BLG Logistics ready for the future.

“The future is something we cannot – and would not want to – foresee. Nevertheless, developing possible scenarios is the only way to approach it,” wrote Jakub Piotrowski when he assumed the responsibility of heading the sustainability and digitalisation department at BLG Logistics in 2018. He would eventually roll out many future-oriented projects to slowly and smoothly step into the new digital future.

“We believe it is crucial that our innovations and technologies always harmonise with the environment, society, and our employees,” Piotrowski wrote in the last published sustainability report from BLG. “It shows how we deal with our ecological, economic, and social responsibility. It also provides in-depth information on the main nonfinancial aspects of our business activities.” According to him enabling the future in times of global warming also and above all means facing up to our ecological responsibility.

BLG Logistics defined its ecological responsibility in a concrete goal six years ago. It aims to reduce our CO2 emissions by 20 percent by 2020 compared to 2011.

It managed to cut CO2 emissions by 21.5 percent since 2011. Contributing factors were various measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many energy-efficient and certified new buildings constructed over recent years. For instance to save some 1,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, BLG replaced around 1,600 lamps on 673 masts at the BLG AutoTerminal Bremerhaven.

Despite all the advances in digitalization, people remain the most important resource in BLG’s logistics processes. “It is our responsibility to offer secure jobs in an environment where people are valued and fairness is a guiding principle. What‘s more, we want to position BLG Logistics as an attractive company for the next generation of employees,” says BLG chief executive Frank Dreeke.

It is given that technological progress requires human creativity. On the question of how BLG tackles the quest for innovation, its chief executive officer says, “Change is part of our daily business. That‘s why we‘ve integrated a strong innovation structure in the company. The BLG Innovation Team is not only the first point of contact for people with ideas that are tested in 100-day projects. It also monitors the overall market situation, brings fresh impulses into the company, and invites start-ups to tell us their ideas.”

A sustainable, resource-saving way of conducting business has always been a fundamental part of BLG’s corporate strategy. It sees high-quality services, innovation, and responsibility toward the environment and its employees as essential conditions for the lasting success of our company.

BLG will soon open a new Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in the Spartanburg area of South Carolina (SC) in the US. This operation will provide FTZ service to OEMs and Tier 1 organisations in the upstate area. It is designed to support OEM’s and Tier 1 suppliers in the automotive, aerospace and industrial markets. German auto manufacturer BMW has a seven million square-foot manufacturing plant in Spartanburg and employs 11,000 people. The Spartanburg plant is the BMW Group producer of the BMW X3, X3 M, X5, X5 M and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles and X4, X4 M, X6 and X6 M Sports Activity Coupes.

“We are excited about continuing our successful growth strategy in North America with the opening of our newest FTZ facility in Spartanburg, SC. We eagerly anticipate partnering with other local organizations that require 3rd party logistics services with an integrated global footprint. We’ve been welcomed with open arms by the Greenville/Spartanburg business community and look forward to giving back to the communities in which we work and play,” said BLG Logistics North America Sales & Marketing Tom Burke.

BLG Logistics, headquartered in Bremen, Germany, is a seaport and logistics service provider with an international network. It offers logistics services in automobile, contract, and container logistics along the entire supply chain. Its clients include the leading German automakers as well as companies in retailing and industry. It has network of presence across the world in Europe, America, Africa and Asia, besides its strong presence in Germany. The group‘s combined sales revenue in business year 2018 was EUR 1.14 billion.

This feature was originally published in March 2020 issue of STAT Trade Times.