Environmental Demands
In writing a previous editorial about London’s Low Emission’s Zone, I pointed out that while important, the environment is not the only issue in town.
However, despite that being my view I am all too aware that it is not the prevailing view today as people, politicians and populists all get on the bandwagon with a tunnel vision that will no doubt help the environment, but at the detriment of others.
The latest occurrence of this as I see it is the decision by German coffee and retail chain, Tchibo. In it’s wisdom, the company has decided to place pressure on its contracted container carriers and forwarders by demanding a reduction in emissions, with Tchibo wanting a 30% reduction of its own CO2 emissions by 2015.
Admittedly the company is trying to do the right thing by the environment on it’s own, but by placing demands on others, Tchibo has moved from being conscientious to controlling, and while I have always held a belief that in normal circumstances the customer is always right, there must be a limit.
Indeed some of what Tchibo is now pressing for, the reduction of ship speed to save fuel and the implementation of eco-friendly technology, has I imagine, never been the total prerogative of the customer. Tchibo therefore has now entered that realm of wanting more than just the provision of services, they are demanding a right to oversee how those services are provided.
While some freight carriers may be happy to accommodate Tchibo’s demands, the end result will be increased costs, all of which will be passed onto the consumer.
As ever, a balance needs to be found between environmental, financial and every day life issues, something that will not be accomplished by one-sided environmental demands.
Editorial by Findlay Osborn
Source: Lloyds List