Content area
Full text
European logistics providers have started to face the challenges by reducing carbon footprints and introducing environmentally friendly solutions.
The latest European Environment Agency (EEA) report, Transport and Environment: On the way to a new common transport policy , says that transport is responsible for 21 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU-15 countries (excluding international aviation and maritime transport). According to the report, road transport contributes 93 percent of the total of all transport emissions. With this in mind, the EUâ[euro](TM)s Sustainable Development Strategy is rightfully calling for a reduction in transport emissions. The mission is clear: Europe is to aiming to reduce overall carbon dioxide emissions from the transport sector by 20 percent between 1990 and 2020.
European logistics providers have heard the message and have started to tackle the challenge of reducing carbon footprints and introducing environmentally friendly solutions. Hereâ[euro](TM)s what some of the leaders are doing.
Green leadership
In 2001 Deutsche Post World Net (DPWN) established its own environmental department and launched a green program to become a leader in environmental protection. â[euro]oeBeing the number one global logistics provider means more than just being the biggest. Our goal is also to be the number one in terms of sustainability,â[euro] explains Dr. Monika Wulf-Mathies, responsible for DPWNâ[euro](TM)s green department.
In 2006, DPWN and its express and logistics subsidiary DHL started several â[euro]oeGoGreenâ[euro] initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company introduced a carbon-neutral express shipping service called â[euro]oeGoGreen-Expressâ[euro] for business clients in Europe. With this service, all transport-related emissions of carbon dioxide are first calculated and then offset through internal and external carbon-reduction projects. The customers, who can choose to send all or a part of their international express shipments as GoGreen-Express, receive GoGreen stickers to place on their shipments as well as an annual certificate declaring the total amount of carbon dioxide offset on their behalf during the year.
An in-house Carbon Management team manages the carbon credits generated from the internal and external carbon-reduction projects. Carbon Management, as well as all GoGreen processes and the emissions-calculation methodology are annually checked by the certifying and verifying company, SGS, in Switzerland.
In addition, a climate-friendly GoGreen parcel service is also in the pilot phase. With this service, DHL is the...