BOMA and Sustainability: Mobility
In the coming weeks, we'll take you on a journey through sustainability, exploring each of the four pillars of our sustainability policy. This week's focus: mobility.
Mobility is a problem. There are simply too many cars on the road. With this in mind, we try to keep the number of BOMA vehicles as low as possible. We encourage our employees to bike and we organize our logistics in the most energy-efficient way possible.
Minimizing CO2 emissions
In response to the current climate crisis, we're working hard to keep our environmental footprint as low as possible. One of our key strategies to achieve this is by reducing CO2 emissions. The one-stop-shop model helps lower your overall CO2 output. This means you can choose a single supplier for all your cleaning and hygiene needs. For deliveries, we use fixed routes and schedules whenever possible. This allows us to load trucks more efficiently and reduce emissions for each delivery.
Based on your previous orders, our e-tools (such as the BOMA app, called BiP, and the DosDob order management system) generate periodic order suggestions (POPs) for a more efficient and sustainable ordering process. By ordering less frequently and in larger quantities, you can reduce both mileage and emissions!
BOMA works with low-emission transport partners for sustainable urban deliveries (in Ghent and Antwerp, for example). BOMA delivers goods to the edge of the city, where the orders are transferred to compact, eco-friendly vehicles that are better for both people and the planet.
Several Bomitos even use electric vehicles, which they charge using solar power in the parking lot of our Antwerp headquarters. This helps make our fleet greener. There's also a smart tire pump in the parking lot that helps us maintain proper tire pressure. This helps tires last longer and saves 2 to 5% on fuel. Doing so directly reduces CO2 emissions. BOMA also sources locally whenever possible. In total, over 80% of the materials and supplies that BOMA purchases are produced in Europe.
Alternative modes of transportation
All employees have the option to lease an electric bike at an appealing rate. Currently, 33 Bomitos have already taken part in this initiative. They leave the car behind and choose a healthier, more responsible way to get to work. Additionally, remote work is also an option for Bomitos. When there's heavy snow or major traffic, several Bomitos work from their home office. Internal meetings between branches are held via video conference as much as possible. This way, no one wastes time on the road and our internal operations remain efficient. We're also carpooling more and more to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.