Climate Leadership in Action: JAS Worldwide

As global supply chains grow increasingly complex, many companies within the logistics and supply chain sector face increasing expectations to reduce emissions, increase efficiency, and build more sustainable, resilient systems.  Reports show that, 60% of global emissions are linked to supply chain activities. This poses significant challenges but also unique opportunities. By reevaluating how goods move globally and investing in solutions that benefit both stakeholders and the planet, logistics providers can seize a unique opportunity to lead on supply chain decarbonization.

JAS Worldwide is a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, delivering innovative, customer-focused solutions designed with sustainability in mind. As one of the largest and fastest-growing family-owned logistics firms, JAS is deeply committed to creating opportunities for its people, communities, and partners to thrive.

As a recent participant in the Climate Ambition Accelerator, JAS Worldwide engaged with peers and experts to strengthen its climate strategy and explore new ways to embed sustainable practices into its operations. In this Q&A, they share how the program helped shape their approach and reinforced their commitment to driving meaningful and impactful progress.  

‍

1. Can you provide an overview of your company’s climate action strategy?  

JAS’s Sustainability Strategy is built around Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. On the environmental front, we focus on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across our value chain, including decarbonizing transportation, introducing sustainable services and packaging, promoting circular economy solutions, implementing clean energy options, and driving operational efficiency.  

In 2023, we committed to setting science-based targets through science-based targets as part of our Net Zero 2050 ambition. We are proud to share that both our near-term and net-zero targets have now been validated.

2. How has participation in the Climate Ambition Accelerator (CAA) influenced your company’s climate strategy and commitments?  

The CAA played a role in helping us move from commitment to implementation. We had already committed to setting science-based targets, but the program helped us start organizing our emissions inventory and understand the full scope of what’s involved. It offered a structured introduction to setting climate targets, guiding us through emission scopes and what it takes to build a decarbonization strategy across all categories, not just transport. What made the program especially valuable were the tangible examples that helped us translate concepts into action. The sessions were interactive, not just theoretical, and supported moving forward.

3. Since completing the program, how has your company engaged employees and stakeholders in advancing climate goals?  

Since completing the program, we’ve actively engaged colleagues across our global organization to collect and refine emissions data, an important step toward validating our targets. As an asset-light company, supplier engagement is critical to our decarbonization strategy. We are developing a supplier engagement strategy focused on those contributing the most to our transport-related emissions, which account for over 90% of our total carbon footprint. This targeted approach allows us to prioritize impact and drive progress across our value chain.

4. What role does innovation play in your company’s climate action strategy?  

Innovation is central to our climate strategy, particularly through digitalization and strategic partnerships. We leverage advanced tools for emissions tracking and supplier sustainability management, while our JAS SmartHub platform supports both our customers and our own sustainability goals with emissions visibility, analytics, and reporting capabilities.  

We continuously evolve our service portfolio as new technologies emerge, including advanced biofuels, enhanced emissions tracing, and AI-based tools such as container utilization analysis. These innovations improve operational efficiency and support decarbonization across our logistics network and broader value chain.  

5. What guidance would you offer to organizations embarking on their climate action plan?

Start by building a strong understanding of your emissions profile. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect before taking action. It’s never too late to start. We need everyone on this journey who is in the same boat. When one organization sets goals and makes progress, it contributes to collective impact, and we all benefit.  

Programs like the Climate Ambition Accelerator make technical concepts more approachable and provide practical, hands-on guidance to help you get started. Surround yourself with the right partners, engage your teams early, and focus on progress over perfection. Taking that first step creates momentum and opens the door to broader impact.  

As the logistics sector evolves to meet the demands of a changing world, companies like JAS Worldwide are demonstrating what it means to lead with purpose and innovation. Recent analysis indicates that companies can achieve an average 40 to 50 percent reduction in logistics emissions by 2030, using technology that is available today. By integrating sustainability into the core of its operations and embracing continuous learning through programs like the Climate Ambition Accelerator, JAS is reducing its environmental impact and helping shape a more resilient, efficient, and inclusive global supply chain.  

The Climate Ambition Accelerator offers companies a unique opportunity to deepen their climate strategies through practical guidance, peer learning, and expert insight. Whether just beginning to measure emissions or preparing to set science-based targets, participants gain the tools and understanding to turn climate ambition into tangible action. As pressure mounts for businesses to lead on sustainability, programs like this are critical in helping organizations move from intention to impact.

If your company is interested in UN Global Compact Network USA’s climate programs, see here for more information.

‍

About JAS

JAS, a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, was founded in Milan, Italy, in 1978. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and supported by 7,000+ team members in more than 100 countries, JAS focuses on creating solutions that are innovative, sustainable, and tailored to customer needs. As a privately owned company, JAS is committed to creating opportunities for communities, customers, and colleagues to thrive.

Please find more information on www.jas.com