Manufacturers across the East Midlands can now benchmark the environmental performance of their supply chains using a new interactive dashboard developed by researchers at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
Launched at a regional green logistics event, the online tool enables manufacturers to compare their performance against businesses across the region in key areas including transport, packaging, purchasing, inventory management and reverse logistics.
The dashboard accompanies one of the first regional assessments of green logistics practices in East Midlands manufacturing, which saw researchers interview 103 manufacturers.
Professor Rachel Granger, director of DMU’s Institute for Responsible Business and Social Justice, said: “The East Midlands is one of the UK’s largest logistics hubs, so how goods move through our region matters enormously for businesses, communities and the environment. Green logistics is no longer simply about sustainability it is becoming a catalyst for innovation, competitiveness and long-term business growth.”
The research found that packaging and environmental management were the region’s strongest performing areas.
“What we’ve found is that the biggest opportunity lies in reverse logistics, while companies that invest in skills and training consistently demonstrate stronger green logistics practices,” added Dr Ayham Jaaron, associate professor in sustainable management at DMU.
The study also found that small-medium sized companies outperformed smaller ones, suggesting targeted support for SMEs could have the greatest regional impact. Organisations with formal environmental policies also recorded consistently stronger green logistics performance.
The research team hopes the dashboard will become a practical resource for businesses, allowing manufacturers to benchmark themselves against their sector, identify priorities for improvement and make better-informed investment decisions.
The project was funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF), with a second phase now planned to help manufacturers accelerate the transition to greener logistics.
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