Lean & Green creates an international partnership to strengthen its presence in Europe

Lean & Green, the European initiative coordinated in Spain by AECOC for decarbonization of logistics, opens a new stage with the constitution of Lean & Green International Association, an organization that was created with the aim of strengthening its governance and accelerating the transition towards more sustainable transport and logistics in Europe.

Since 2008, the Lean & Green initiative and brand were owned by the Netherlands through Connect, a non-profit organization that has promoted the program for over fifteen years. However, the new European context, marked by increasing regulatory demands and the need for homogeneous and comparable data across countries, has led to a rethinking of its organizational structure.

In this scenario, the creation of the Lean & Green International Association responds to the desire to provide the program with a common structure that allows for strengthening the harmonization of criteria, enhancing its institutional recognition and ensuring a coordinated implementation in new markets.

The new association will manage the brand's intellectual property, harmonize the program across all member countries, and promote its international expansion. Furthermore, it will work to strengthen its recognition within European Union institutions, thereby consolidating its role as a leader in sustainability applied to transport and logistics.

Spain plays a leading role in this new phase. AECOC participates as a founding member alongside the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and Portugal, and sits on the Supervisory Board of the new entity. This places it at the heart of the program's European governance decision-making. Furthermore, the Lean & Green initiative in Spain has established itself as a benchmark for the project at the European level. Currently, Spain has the second-highest number of companies participating in the program and is first in terms of growth rate, reflecting the increasing commitment of Spanish businesses to the decarbonization of logistics and transport. In this body, Barbara Ferrer She will assume the vice-presidency of the Supervisory Council, reinforcing Spanish representation in the association's governing bodies.

Likewise, Estefanía Soler She has been appointed director of the Lean & Green International Association, leading this new phase of growth and consolidation of the program on a European scale.

“The evolution of Lean & Green, from a successful national initiative to a true European movement, demonstrates the sector’s commitment to sustainability. The creation of this new international association provides us with the governance, scale, and collaborative capacity needed to drive significant change beyond our borders. Together, we are building a solid platform that will support hundreds of companies, strengthen dialogue with European institutions, and help shape the future of sustainable freight transport in Europe,” says Estefanía Soler.

The establishment of the association also entails a firm commitment from the participating countries, as it requires adherence to a fully harmonized program. The organization will have eleven members: the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Romania.

Currently, more than 600 companies are part of the initiative in Europe, demonstrating the project's consolidation and reach. With this new structure, Lean & Green strengthens its governance at the European level and positions itself as a driving force for a coordinated and effective transition of transport and logistics towards more sustainable models.