Spain-Based Operator Strives to Meet Environmental Targets
By Liesl Venter
Breakbulk Europe 2023: By adopting a values-driven approach to business and strongly emphasising sustainability, Kaleido Logistics is transforming itself as an organisation that cares about the environment, its people and the communities it serves in.
The company is taking significant steps to electrify its equipment as part of this commitment.
CEO Xoan Martinez acknowledges that the impact of their actions extends beyond environmental considerations. During an interview at Breakbulk Europe, the executive said the company is actively striving to meet its environmental targets while positively affecting social responsibility and governance.
“This is by no means a quick process,” he said. “We have been on this journey for at least five years and have taken a long-term approach to sustainability. As a family-owned business, it is not just a corporate undertaking but intrinsically part of our ethos and culture to improve sustainability throughout the organisation.”
Kaleido has developed a long-term plan to transition its assets from fuel-powered to electric-powered machines. The company is gradually replacing traditional fuel-powered equipment with electric alternatives, from forklifts to gantry cranes.
Although the market lacks electric options for heavier machinery, Martinez says they actively seek stakeholders’ involvement, particularly port authorities and ship owners, to collaborate on providing environmentally friendly solutions.
“This shift has required significant investment and compromises, but it is an undertaking that we believe must be done. We also recognise the importance of aligning the energy source we are moving to with green and renewable origins.”
He said much had been achieved in the past five years, and the organisation hoped to have an almost complete electric-powered operation within the next five years. Acknowledging that more can be done regarding environmental, social, and governance, or ESG practices, Martinez said the business needed to commit itself to affecting meaningful change.
“In the communities where we are based worldwide, we are making significant efforts to promote social responsibility. In Angola, we have inaugurated a primary school and nowadays we are supporting secondary schools to ensure we are seeing learners through the system.”
He said the company supported educational, social and environmental actions in Angola and Mozambique, China, Brazil, Portugal and Spain. “Our staff come from the communities they work in and clearly understand the social needs on the ground. It is important for us to lead by example and make a difference where we are working.”
Beyond environmental efforts, Kaleido is also involved in other social and equality activities, including supporting local rugby teams, renovation of a 12th-century monastery along Spain’s north-western Atlantic coastline and ensuring equal opportunities and conditions for women at all levels within the company.
The organisation also maintains anti-bribery systems and committees to ensure ethical practices, particularly in countries where handling and moving products can be challenging.
Kaleido Logistics is an exhibitor at Breakbulk Europe.
