Environmental and sustainability policy in the focus of UK’s freight forwarders

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) held the first meeting of its new Sustainable Logistics Policy Group, managed by Mike Jones, policy advisor for sustainability & environment. During the meeting, the attendees discussed how the policy group could work to provide guidance to the association in order to deliver meaningful support on environmental and sustainability issues as they impact the UK and the international freight services industry.

Future meetings, according to BIFA, will discuss how to agree and set the association’s policy on all matters concerning environmental matters.

Environmental and sustainability issues have been a concern for BIFA for many years. The organization has been actively monitoring legislation and tracking the development of new regulations, providing advice to its corporate members on various environmental issues. Additionally, the organization has been studying the development of different fuel types and their respective merits and demerits.

Over time, the environmental agenda within freight and logistics has developed. While the focus is often on carbon emissions, there are other wide-ranging generic issues. With all of the above in mind, BIFA felt the need to establish a policy group. The group will help identify and report to the Association and its members, any environmental-related issues that may impact their businesses in the future or are already doing so.

At a recent meeting, Kelly Hobson, a sustainability expert and consultant to BIFA, gave a presentation about the wider business case and requirements of any supply chain. Lucinda Maxwell, founders’ associate from Pledge, also delivered an interesting overview about calculating freight emissions and sustainability regulations.

During the meeting, Director General Steve Parker emphasized the significance of this new policy group. He urged members present to encourage other members to engage with the group and attend future meetings.

He said, “All BIFA members are at different stages of their journey in regards to the development of policy that addresses environmental and sustainability issues within the supply chains that they manage.”

“By participating in this policy group, members will be able to help shape best practice guidance; and influence how BIFA can represent members’ interests on this subject in our interaction with Government and other stakeholders that are developing legislation on the matter,” he said.