Can lean help battle climate change? – Lean Global Connection

In the 2023 Lean Global Connection, a panel discussion was organized to discuss the use of Lean to combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions.

• Lizzy Butink: Sustainability Manager at Dura Vermeer, a Dutch construction and real estate company
• Fabrice Farcot: Head of Sustainability at Aramis Group, a European leader in selling refurbished used cars online
• Tom van Kollenburg: Professor of Effectful Value Chains at Avans University of Applied Sciences

A few themes emerged. While lean does not automatically equate to green practices, its principles and tools can significantly contribute to environmental sustainability. Sustainability is no longer about convincing people of the problem; it’s about finding efficient and rapid solutions. Lean methodologies can provide the structure and speed needed for implementation. Integrating sustainability into daily operations requires a mindset shift and engagement from all employees, not just sustainability specialists. The definition of customer value should expand to include the needs of the planet, not just the immediate desires of clients. Focus on immediate, actionable steps that contribute to sustainability rather than solely on distant targets.

The discussion highlights a few examples:

• Dura Vermeer
  • Building houses with timber significantly reduces CO2 emissions compared to concrete.
  • Aiming for 20% of constructions to be wood-based by 2030.
  • Demonstrating that sustainable construction can be both profitable and aesthetically pleasing.
• Aramis Group
  • Focusing on reducing waste in logistics to decrease carbon footprint.
  • Successfully reduced carbon footprint from logistics by 15% in one year.
  • Example of how chasing waste naturally leads to environmental benefits.
• Academic Perspective
  • Lean principles like customer value and waste reduction can be applied to environmental concerns.
  • Need for a paradigm shift in mindset and a move from exploitation to exploration in lean applications.
  • Profit maximization should not be the sole focus; consider the well-being of society and the planet.