Logistics firm secures university funding through knowledge transfer partnership
Logistics firm Baxter Freight, based in Nottingham, has been awarded funding from Innovate UK for a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) with Nottingham Trent University focused on evolving sustainability within the logistics sector.
Due to its prevalence in the global economy, transporting essential goods around the globe, the logistics and transport sector contributes to just over a third of global carbon dioxide emissions, making it the largest-emitting sector in numerous developed countries.
Increasing the knowledge of sustainability across the logistics industry is a big motivator of Baxter Freight.
In the UK alone there are around 61,303 road freight businesses who need to evolve their operations to be more sustainable and compliant with upcoming legislation.
KTP’s are awarded to businesses who can provide a detailed application of a key issue they hope to resolve that will bring about innovation and real-world impact.
Baxter Freight, together with Nottingham Trent University, created a winning submission that will support businesses and freight companies across the midlands, UK and globally to drive down emissions as well as creating opportunities within Baxter Freight to minimise environmental impact.
This KTP is the next step forward for Baxter Freight as they look to drive sustainable innovations for their customers and suppliers, whilst also minimising their own environmental impact.
The funds awarded with this project allows Baxter Freight to work with leading academics within the field of supply chains, sustainability, organisational change and marketing and has helped recruit a Sustainability Specialist to join their Sustainable Freight Network.
A particular topic that this KTP will help support is Baxter Freight’s Scope 3 reporting initiative.
From 2025, Scope 3 reporting, the indirect emissions in a company’s value chain that are typically responsible for 70-90 per cent of an organisation's carbon footprint (Carbon Trust), will become mandatory in Europe.
Many larger companies are already prepared for this, however some SME’s are struggling knowing where to begin on such a complex issue.
Baxter Freight are taking the hassle out of Scope 3 reporting, through their data-driven solution, providing their customers with ISO-14083 GLEC verified personalised reports, handling all the calculations for every journey and shipment.
These reports include the number of journeys, the number of locations and the overall emissions your supply chain produces.
Tom Isler, innovation and sustainability manager at Baxter Freight said: “Collaborating with NTU and NBS is an opportunity for us to see how we can create clarity for our partners, whether they are suppliers or customers on this complex issue of Scope 1, 2 and 3, net zero and sustainability.
“If we can help even a handful of businesses to not only report on scope 3 but find more sustainable solutions because of it, then we will have already made a positive impact.”
Dr Stuart Carnell, senior lecturer at Nottingham Business School said: “It is inspiring to see an organisation such as Baxter Freight who are redefining sustainability and net-zero within the freight industry and creating a forum for stakeholder interaction as part of this Scope 3 initiative.
“Furthermore, the team at NTU are proud to support and facilitate this initiative as part of this knowledge transfer programme.”
Looking to the future, the KTP will support Baxter Freight in securing ISO 14001 certification, in addition to becoming a B-Corp business.
