Tag: distribution centre|sustainability|warehouse

The real estate experts of DHL Supply Chain, the global contract logistics provider, have developed a carbon neutral real estate portfolio of 400,000 sq m to support customers’ growth requirements across six European Tier 1 markets. Located in central logistics areas, all sites will benefit from excellent multi modal transport connectivity, designed to serve customers across different sectors.

All buildings will have modern technical specifications, reflecting a campus concept and become mission-critical hubs for DHL Supply Chain and its national and international customers. The 14 units, constructed across 10 development sites, are located across major logistics markets in Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Italy and Poland. All buildings will meet key sustainability criteria such as BREEAM Excellent and EPC A, comply with EU taxonomy and undergo a Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor (CRREM) assessment.

“The development of 400,000 sq m of carbon neutral warehouses is an important strategic step as we aim to meet our customers’ growing demand for more sustainable warehouse space in strategic markets,” says Hendrik Venter, CEO DHL Supply Chain EMEA. “All assets we develop are underpinned by excellent fundamentals; be it sustainability, digitalisation, location, demographics or tenure. Connectivity or proximity to key sales markets help us improve delivery times for our customers, while a close eye on the surrounding social factors and communities in which we operate help us to generate attractive jobs and ensuring us access to a loyal and capable workforce. These factors help us and our customers to be even more successful and lead the way into a more sustainable future.”

DHL Supply Chain finds strategic partner

For a first tranche of this 400,000 sq m warehouse portfolio, DHL Supply Chain has already found an investor and strategic partner. Allianz Real Estate, acting on behalf of several Allianz Group companies, and DHL have entered into a purchase agreement for the sale of the first half of the portfolio. The warehouses, which are set to be completed between Q1 2023 to Q1 2024, will represent one of Allianz Real Estate’s largest single logistics sector acquisitions, in terms of gross leasable area, to date: in total the five facilities will cover over 200,000 sq m.

DHL Supply Chain will occupy at least 85% of the facilities developed for Allianz Real Estate on long-term leases post completion.

“We are very proud to be able to offer our clients effective growth opportunities, with warehouses that are not only located in core markets and fulfil our clients’ needs, but also meet the highest ESG and sustainability criteria,” says Joe Mikes, Global Head of Real Estate Solutions at DHL Supply Chain. “This enables us and our customers to create business opportunities that are compatible with our Sustainability Roadmap, which aims to make every aspect of the supply chain more sustainable which of course also includes our real estate. We are very much looking forward to many more such projects in the future.”

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BayWa r.e. is consolidating its position in the solar wholesale business with the opening of a new logistics centre in Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône near Marseille, France. The French warehouse is the fourth new opening in Europe since the start of the year, following the opening of warehouses in Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Poland.

The warehouse has an area of 5,840 sq m and is strategically located near the Fos-sur-Mer seaport in Marseille. Around 10,000 ships are handled there every year and more than 80 million tonnes of goods are transhipped.

“The new logistics centre has been strategically positioned near the port of Marseille, taking into consideration the location of our sister companies in Spain and Italy as part of this decision,” explained Christian Greven, Head of Operations, BayWa r.e. Solar Systems S.à.r.l. “The opening is consistent with our expansion plans and strengthens BayWa r.e.’s network in Europe following the opening of warehouses in Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Poland this year.”

The warehouse will prepare and deliver product orders throughout southern France. Its convenient location makes it possible to supply customers within 24 hours and to offer them comprehensive product availability thanks to the large storage capacity.

“From 2022 onwards, we will be able to receive goods from Asia directly via the port of Marseille, which will save a considerable amount of time,” added Julien Chirol, Head of Operations, BayWa r.e. Solar Systems SAS.

The building also houses offices, and a training centre for the novotegra product range will be set up by the end of the summer. In the first phase of development, four employees were hired, and six more are to follow within the next 18 months.

Frank Jessel, Global Director of Solar Trade, added: “We are always seeking ways to improve our logistic and warehousing capabilities to better serve our customers, and we’re delighted to be expanding our team and strengthening our offering in the French region as part of this commitment. Currently, our French solar distribution business team consists of 25 employees, with more to follow soon.”

More than a decade after the publication of its first Environmental stewardship, Social Responsibility and Governance (ESG) report, Prologis has released its 2020 ESG Sustainability Report.

Prologis says ESG is woven into its fabric, informing decision-making from the boardroom to all corners of its global operation. Its organisational commitment to ESG is strengthened by its inherent alignment with the strategic blueprint of the company, the business imperatives it calls the 3Cs: Customer Centricity; Change Through Innovation and Operational Excellence; and Culture & Talent.

Highlights from its 2020 ESG report demonstrate how Prologis continues to leverage its global scale to provide leading solutions in areas like energy efficiency, carbon neutrality, and customer innovation.

Environmental Stewardship

Its commitment to sustainable building design, energy efficiency and renewable energy all create value for its customers. For example, through the Prologis SolarSmart initiative, part of the Prologis Essentials programme, it partnered with customers to install 40MW globally making 2020 one of the most successful years to date. Since 2016, LED lightning has been its building standard and working together with its customers it achieved almost 50% LED coverage in 2020.

2020 also marked the opening and development of multiple Smart Building projects in Europe, adopting and advancing cutting-edge sustainable technologies, materials, building techniques (like low carbon building materials, borehole thermal energy storage, electric heat pumps) and circular building design. These Smart Buildings have set an altogether new standard for warehousing and logistics, streamlining its customers’ operations from day one and optimising productivity as they grow.

With its newly announced global goal to achieve carbon-neutral construction by 2025, Prologis is taking a leadership role in addressing one of the largest sources of global carbon emissions: the embodied carbon of buildings. Just south of Paris, its new Moissy 2 logistics facility will be its first carbon-neutral warehouse, avoiding, reducing and compensating 100% of construction, operations and maintenance impacts throughout the building’s life cycle. Built with no gas connection,  the building will rely on design efficiencies, rooftop solar, purchased green energy and borehole thermal energy storage for heating, cooling and power.

Across Europe, it partners with the international charity Cool Earth to fund the protection of rainforest lands equivalent to five times the unavoidable embodied carbon emissions associated with constructing its buildings.

Social Responsibility

Prologis’ stakeholders are fundamental partners in its business’ success. To grow long-term value, it develops deep relationships and advances the interest of its stakeholders. This means creating an environment where its employees can reach their full potential, where its products and services create unique value for customers and where Prologis advances economic opportunity and well-being in its communities.

Examples are solving customer labour challenges by designing buildings for sustainability as evidenced by The WELL Building Standard.

PARKlife, a Prologis Europe initiative, offers park facilities and amenities to customers, their employees and local communities. Many of its parks facilitate green travel options such as easily accessible public transport, EV charging stations and safe bicycle storage, which help employees get to work sustainably. Others have onsite canteens and food truck courts that provide its customers’ employees a variety of onsite dining choices. Walking trails, gyms and sports facilities are also popular amenities. PARKlife is a mindset and is about looking at how Prologis’ shared spaces and places can become the best environment for everyone who interacts with it.

Through its  Community Workforce Initiative, a unique logistics sector talent development programme, Prologis is able to unlock economic opportunity for communities while engaging with its customers to address one of their biggest pain points: labour.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Prologis’ commitment to support its customers and employees reinforced its standing as an unwavering partner for its stakeholders. For its customers it supplied personal protective equipment and implemented COVID-19 protocols to keep its customers’ workforce safe and their businesses running.

Prologis’ employees are the beating heart of its business, delivering value for the company and its customers and bringing its sustainability goals to fruition. As such, the pandemic challenged Prologis to conduct an immediate evaluation of its benefits and add several new offerings to support the health and well-being of its employees.

Prologis says it is important to be a part of the communities it lives and works in, and this motivates Prologis to initiate volunteering projects and philanthropy including IMPACT Day, Space for good, Dock Doors of Giving and many other initiatives across Europe.

“Our 2020 Sustainability Report marks ongoing progress in our longstanding commitment to ESG. In a year that posed unprecedented challenges, I am proud that our European team has continued to use their drive for innovation, growth, and partnership to support our customers and communities. It is a testament to our philosophy that puts ESG first, not only because it makes business sense, but simply because it is the right thing to do,” concludes Ben Bannatyne, President, Prologis Europe.