Green Logistics – Reduce Emissions, Increase Efficiency

Governments around the world have set ambitious climate protection targets. The European Union, for example, has announced its Green New Deal and set a goal of reducing emissions by 55% by 2030 and becoming carbon neutral by 2050. To achieve these climate goals, a massive and rapid reduction of emissions caused by transport is necessary. At the same time, the logistics industry is still heavily dependent on fossil fuels, and e-commerce and next- or same-day last-mile deliveries mean underutilized vehicles and high fuel consumption.

But how is the transformation to sustainable logistics to be financed? In the transport industry, there is a high need for investment, margins are low, and customers are only willing to pay a premium for sustainable delivery to a limited extent. This is where the concept of green logistics comes in.

What are the benefits of sustainable logistics?

The benefits of sustainable logistics for the environment are obvious: reduction of harmful carbon dioxide emissions and lower use of resources. But more sustainable logistics also brings benefits for companies.

Reduced costs

The cost of fossil fuels is difficult to calculate and - since it is a finite raw material - tends to rise. By switching to more ecological, alternative drives, a logistics company not only makes itself independent of speculation and conflicts over oil, but also achieves price stability and predictability. At the same time, these companies anticipate the introduction of a CO₂ tax and can thus avoid future costs with their investments. Some countries are also planning to adjust the truck toll to the CO₂ emissions of the respective vehicle or to exempt CO₂-free transports from the toll.

More orders

Green logistics is more in demand than ever. Consumers, but also companies, are increasingly paying attention to their carbon footprint and are placing higher demands on services and goods. Suppliers to the automotive industry, for example, must be able to demonstrate appropriate certifications. And such certifications are also increasingly required for larger tenders. Offering climate-friendly or even climate-neutral delivery can be a real competitive advantage here.

Does optimized route planning reduce emissions?

The calculation is quite simple: fewer kilometers driven means less fuel consumption, means less CO₂. Route planning software, such as PTV Route Optimiser, offers a range of features and benefits that can reduce both mileage and fuel consumption of deliveries. It also enables you to use fewer vehicles for the same volume of orders.

Increase efficiency

Empty runs are not only expensive, but also unecological. PTV's route planning solutions therefore calculate the most efficient routes possible with optimally utilized vehicles and, if possible, combine pick-ups and returns. Depending on the baseline situation, this not only leads to fewer kilometers driven, but also to entire vehicles being saved. The routing algorithms also calculate the shortest route to the next stop, bypass routes unsuitable for trucks and avoid detours.

The software also ensures that the right vehicle is selected for each trip.

Consider eco-friendly drives

If you would like to use an electrically powered vehicle for certain routes, you can set up a kilometer restriction for these routes in the PTV route planning tools. Prioritization of electric trucks or vans is also possible. In addition, areas can be designated in which only e-vehicles are to be used

Optimize route execution

The driving style has a major influence on fuel consumption. The calculated routes of a software solution are not only optimized, but also feasible. This takes the time pressure off drivers and encourages them to adopt a more consistent, fuel-saving driving style.

The use of additional tools, such as a truck navigation with live traffic information or an ETA service, can also bypass traffic jams and increase the number of successful first delivery attempts.

Why do I need an emissions report?

Transparency and reliable figures are the basis of any sustainability strategy. Only when you know how much CO₂ is actually emitted can you make an informed decision about potential measures.

• An analysis of the current state is crucial for assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of measures taken.
• More and more countries are planning regulations on emissions reporting, making emissions or sustainability reports mandatory for logistics companies.
• You can make such a report available to your customers and business partners and use it for tenders or certification procedure.
• The emissions report data can be used as a basis for compensation measures or emissions trading.
• In addition, with such a balance sheet you can already estimate what additional costs you would incur as a result of a CO₂ tax.

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