Green Freight Transport: How To Deliver Efficiently And Not Trash The Planet In The Process
The freight and logistics industry contributes an enormous amount of carbon and waste to our planet. And with the steady increase in online shopping, we’re seeing the environmental impact increase – more boxes, more packaging, more carbon emissions – all contributing to stress on the earth.
But there is good news ahead.
If your business relies on freight, then there are ways that you can be part of the solution.
Let’s look at what green freight transport is, why it’s important, the benefits of environmentally friendly freight, what the industry is doing and how you can make your freight more green.
What Is Green Freight Transport?
Green Freight Transport is about making freight choices that reduce carbon emissions and the stress on our planet.
It’s about being more conscious about being environmentally friendly when you package and send your freight.
What is involved in Green Freight Transport?
Green Logistics In Supply Chain Management
When it comes to green logistics in supply chain management, the most common thing we’re seeing is carbon offsetting. This is where you “offset” any CO2 emissions you contribute to the environment, by contributing to a carbon reduction project.
Another trend we’re seeing is the move to electric vehicles in freight fleets. This doesn’t necessarily involve the purchase of new vehicles, with companies emerging who are able to convert petrol or diesel running vans, to electric.
While there’s definitely a lot of movement towards green freight, we still have a way to go. With so many variables effecting supply chains, and hundreds of thousands of vehicles across Australia, it’s going to take time and improved data to start to see real change.
What is the Goal For Green Logistics & Transportation?
As we’re able to aggregate more data, we’ll start to build a greater understanding of how much carbon a freight choice contributes to the environment.
We currently have smart systems that use data to enable customers to select a carrier or freight type based on cost. In the future, you’ll be able to make those same choices based on which freight option is the greenest.
The goal, is to get to a place where we can have a clear understanding of how much carbon is attached to every shipment based on how it gets there, the route it takes and how it’s packaged.
Benefits of Using Green Freight Transport
There are lots of really good reasons to be more environmentally conscious with your freight. The key benefits include -
Cost effectiveness.
Believe it or not, making more environmentally conscious decisions with your freight choices can actually make you more cost effective.
That’s because the greener freight options tend to be the ones that take a longer to arrive at their destination, but offer better value. Does it have to go the whole way by air and road? Could you send your freight by rail or sea instead?
Brand value
Customers are now demanding carbon neutral options for everything, not just for freight. People want environmentally friendly choices and if you give your customer’s this choice, you raise the feel-good factor and increase the value of your brand to your customer.
You save the planet
There really is no Planet B. We all want a cleaner world for our kids and we all have the power to make choices that do less harm to our environment.
Every little bit plays a part, and if the freight industry does their part, we stand to make a massive, positive contribution to the planet.
How Do You Achieve Green Logistics?
The answer to this question, is with one step at a time.
There’s still a way to go. The rollout of green logistics by carriers is slow, which means it’s hard to access and can be cost prohibitive for freight users.
But there are things you can change about the way you send freight right now, that will help the environment today.
Here’s some Green Freight Examples to help you get started.
Choose the right type of transport
When it comes to carbon effectiveness (and cost effectiveness) the slower the mode of transport the better.
Sea freight is the most environmentally friendly on CO2 emissions, then rail freight, then road freight, then air freight.
If you’ve got something you currently send by air, could you send it by road or rail instead? Even for part of the journey? You won’t just be helping the environment, you’ll also be helping your bottom line.
Carbon offsetting
If you aren’t able to change your mode of transport, the next best thing is to voluntarily implement carbon offsetting, or look for carriers that can help you achieve this.
When you carbon offset, for every bit of carbon you’re putting out, you’re also contributing to carbon reduction by investing in initiatives like reforestation and renewable energy.
Electric vehicles
If road is your main type of freight transport, then look for carriers who have electric vehicle fleets.
Packaging
Environmental impact from the freight industry isn’t all about modes of transport.
It’s also about packaging.
There’s a lot of waste in freight. Lots of plastic. Lots of rubbish. How can you reduce, reuse and recycle the packaging in your freight?
Can you make a change in the type of packaging you use (like switching from plastic to cardboard)? Does that box really have to go inside another box? Do you need that much shrink wrapping?
Can you take more care in the way you package your goods? Is there wasted space? Can you redesign the way you package your goods on the pallet so you can ship more with less? More on a truck at one time, means less truck movements, which equals greener freight.
Freight People & Green Freight Transport
At Freight People, looking after the planet is important to us, so we’re leading the way when it comes to environmentally friendly freight in Australia.
Not only are we Certified Carbon Neutral, our years of freight experience will help you make greener freight choices a reality for your business and your customers.
Freight People can help you reduce your carbon footprint with carbon offsetting, make environmentally friendly carrier choices, select greener transport options and routes, and improve the way you use packaging in your logistics.
Green Freight Transport is the Future.
If there’s no planet, then there’s no economy. So, whatever we do today, needs to be sustainable for the future.
With the freight industry making such a huge contribution to carbon emissions and packaging waste, Green Freight has an important role to play in making the world a better place for our kids to live in.
And it’s a responsibility that belongs to all of us.
Freight People want to help you to be part of the solution. Get in touch with us today to discuss how we can make your freight more environmentally friendly.