Farm Trans & Sustainability: Interview with Jasper van Schip – Connected Services

How would you describe Farm Trans as a company?
‘Ambitious, dedicated and honest. We want to grow as a company, but we want to do so in a sustainable manner. We have a standard, both for ourselves and for our partners. I use five pillars when I’m in talks with possible new suppliers. They include contract type, IT and data integration options, and efficiency goals, which involves carbon emissions reports for example. Of course, partners can’t always meet all of these criteria, but it does give me a good insight into whether we’ll be able to build a long-lasting relationship. It’s a way to show: this is what we stand for. We then have quarterly meetings with our partners to discuss the pillars. We often hear that companies aren’t used to having to report on matters like their carbon emissions. It creates awareness. And as we keep the conversation going, we continue to challenge each other and take steps in the right direction.’

What do you enjoy most about your role as business unit manager?
‘A big part of my job is very ad hoc, but that’s also the nature of the business. The trick is to always evaluate afterwards. What exactly happened and how did we handle it? How can we make sure that possible mistakes are avoided in the future? That’s something I’m assionate about: stabilizing and structuring this part of the business. I really like that Farm Trans gives me the freedom to take the initiative, challenge myself and realise improvements.’

What are some of the challenges you encounter in your work when it comes to sustainability? And how do you deal with them?
‘There is no clear-cut template that you can apply to your entire company. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on what companies around us are doing and learn from that. Some transportation companies have equipped their trucks with solar panels. Others have designed their warehouses to run entirely on solar energy. Those are the kinds of things we want to know about. Not to rush to conclusions, but to take note of and check whether we’re on the right track. Another challenge is that sustainability usually isn’t the decisive factor for our clients. The main question is still: am I getting my money’s worth in terms of service? I’m hopeful though that in a few years their main question will change to: how are you going to help us reach our CO2 goals? This sustainability report is the perfect starting point. We know where we are now andwhat we have to work towards.’