The need to become more sustainable is becoming increasingly urgent and is affecting more and more elements in the business domain. The world and economy are changing rapidly and it is essential that businesses keep up with these changes in order to remain competitive. The Green Logistics professorship ties in with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of ‘Decent work and economic growth’.
The Green Logistics professorship combines idealism with pragmatism by carrying out research into how making processes, products, services and supply chains more sustainable can make a positive contribution to the competitive position of businesses and regions. In this case, logistics also includes transport, but is also defined more broadly in terms of the organisation of the overall supply chain. In the case of the latter, the term ‘supply and demand chain management’ provides a more accurate representation of the focus.
One of the core activities of the professorship is conducting research. The professorship relies on a team of professional and experienced lecturer/researchers, but equally relies on the contributions of motivated and creative students. For each project, we review whether students are able to get involved in a study – and if so, in what capacity – and then proceed to tackle the challenges of issues raised by the business community and the government together. Students are able to contribute either 1) as an intern 2) through the third-year Green Minor, which focuses specifically on sustainable logistics and 3) as a graduate.
The professorship works to serve students, lecturers and professional practice. Together we will be investigating how we can ensure the region and businesses remain competitive by making them more sustainable. Although studies can be carried out on behalf of a company or public authority, it is equally possible to get to work together on brainstorming ideas. Many entrepreneurs have previously stated that they’d like to do ‘something’ in terms of sustainability, but are unsure of what exactly to do. We are happy to visit your company and brainstorm ideas together. Alternatively, if you are interested in have a study carried out by the professorship, our team of grant advisers will get to work to find a suitable grant.
The economy is set to change and this will have a major impact on businesses. Business and revenue models are changing because more and more companies are relying on right of use in lieu of proprietary rights. Philips, for example, sells light to a number of companies instead of lamps, which allows the company to retain ownership of the product and therefore of the raw materials, thereby changing the linear product chain into a circular chain. The use of biotic raw materials as an alternative to fossil fuels may equally have major consequences for businesses. Key issues, for example, are where to find sufficient mass of sufficient quality and establishing the significance of properties such as seasonal influences and perishability to production. Businesses are also faced with markets that are not always ready for sustainable innovations or changing regulations. The world of sustainability is a dynamic one. As a professorship, we support industry and education by studying how supply chains can be made more sustainable in an efficient and effective way and by providing relevant advice. Please download our brochure for more information about the Green Logistics professorship.
The professorship is chaired by dr. Matthias Olthaar. The knowledge network also consists of lecturer/researchers from NHL Stenden and professionals from professional practice. The various members strive for the continuous embedding of generated knowledge in teaching, business and government.
Dr. Matthias Olthaar was inaugurated as a professor of the Green Logistics on 21 September 2017. Please find his inaugural lecture on Green Logistics here.
NHL Stenden Hogeschool
Academy of Economics & Logistics
Van Schaikweg 94
7811 KL Emmen
Esther van der Maten
E: esther.van.der.maten@nhlstenden.com
T: +31 6 82 65 66 15
