Sustainability Integration in Freight Forwarding : strategic planning for UN SDG alignment

Abstract

This thesis describes how a small company X, that specializes in freight forwarding, strives to actively implement different sustainable practices into its operations trying to align with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The study examines the company’s current efforts, the challenges, and opportunities it faces, and suggests a strategic plan on how to improve SDG alignment. The qualitative research approach was used and the author conducted semi-structured interviews with the employees from different departments. The analysis showed that Company X’s sustainability actions are still in an early and informal stage, including steps like using digital documents, combining shipments, and choosing more eco-friendly partners. The main challenges are limited resources, technology gaps, and complex regulations. Still, the company sees opportunities to improve efficiency, save costs, and strengthen customer relationships. As a result, the six steps plan has been developed based on the theoretical models, e.g. Tripple Bottom Line, Stakeholder theory etc., in order to structure the future actions. It focuses on setting clear goals, tracking progress, improving partnerships, and preparing for future certifications. The study shows that even small logistics companies can make a real impact on global sustainability if they take step-by-step actions.