Below is a transcript of the article published in the *Diario del Puerto*.
EmasConsultors provides consultancy services based on AEO and ISO certifications and audits, as well as the issuance of Social Responsibility certificates, carbon footprint calculations and even food safety certificates. Its most regular clients within the sector are customs agents and logistics operators, notably Maersk and APM Terminals.
EmasConsultors’ main objective and service for companies in the logistics sector is to improve their internal operations, competitiveness and professional standing. Customs agents are regular clients of the consultancy firm; they are the ones who, par excellence, require AEO certification, an increasingly essential requirement for this type of business.
Roger Cerdà, from Law & Customs Management, explains to Diario del Puerto that “for a customs agent, not holding the AEO certificate means that professional growth is almost impossible. “Once you obtain AEO certification, the Tax Agency does not reassess you, unless there is a change in legislation, unlike in other European countries, where there are periodic reassessments and you are required to keep up to date,” explains Cerdà.
For their part, logistics operators are more closely associated with ISO certifications, such as the ISO 9001 certificate, which certifies that they provide a service that meets quality standards, or the ISO 14001 certification, which indicates that a company is implementing measures to decarbonise its operations.
Sustainable aspiration
An increasing number of companies in the sector, driven by regulations or climate awareness, are obtaining ISO certifications to demonstrate their environmental commitment.
In this regard, Jordi Gabarró, manager of EmasConsultors, highlights the importance of knowing how to communicate to the customer the steps a logistics company is taking towards decarbonisation. “What the end customer wants is to be informed, so whoever can best explain their environmental impact will be better positioned in the market in terms of sustainability. One way to communicate this effectively is through tools such as ISO 14001, the EMAS regulation, carbon footprinting or energy efficiency,” notes the manager of the strategic consultancy, adding that “companies do this of their own accord, to explain themselves better and so that their end customer can appreciate it”.
Carbon footprint calculation
Using ISO 14064, companies in the sector can calculate the carbon footprint they generate and even compare it with that of other companies.
However, this ISO certification is particularly well-suited to transport companies, as “the scope for improvement is more tangible and quantifiable”, explains Cerdà, who urges hauliers to ensure that lorries do not travel empty.
“There is always more that can be done, although part of it depends on the carrier’s willingness and part on the certainty that the market is moving towards sustainability,” concludes Cerdà.