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Tag: sustainability

PortXchange joins The Climate Pledge

Posted on by Keith McKinley

PortXchange Products B.V., the Netherlands-based digital solutions provider for predictable and sustainable shipping, is joining The Climate Pledge, an initiative co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism, which calls on companies and organisations to be net zero carbon across their businesses by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

The maritime transport industry is responsible for around 3% of anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted globally, releasing around 1,076 million tons of CO2 into our atmosphere every year. Therefore, the entire shipping logistics chain has a significant impact on the planet, which is only increasing as our consumption patterns continue to grow.

Sjoerd de Jager, Managing Director at PortXchange, said: “Joining the Climate Pledge was a logical extension to what we do, as we really believe we can turn the climate crisis into climate action. As the first shipping technology company to join the pledge, we aim to take a leadership role by promoting digitalisation and decarbonisation amongst our shipping partners, such as port authorities and the cities they serve. We want to inspire a movement of shipping businesses looking to do the same.”

As part of the Climate Pledge, PortXchange commits itself to:

  • Measure and report GHG emissions on a regular basis
  • Implement decarbonisation strategies in line with the Paris Agreement through real business changes and innovations, including efficiency improvements, renewable energy, materials reductions and other carbon emission elimination strategies
  • Neutralise any remaining emissions with additional, quantifiable, real, permanent, and socially-beneficial offsets to achieve net zero annual carbon emissions by 2040

PortXchange has already acted on all three commitments:

  • Preparing an annual footprint analysis
  • Implementing a travel policy where employees attend online international meetings and conferences as much as possible
  • Implementing Travelperk, a business travel platform, which features Greenperk that advises on the most environmentally friendly travel mode and lets your company offset 100% of the carbon emissions generated during business travel automatically through its platform on a per-trip basis. For office commuting, PXP subsidises the use of public transport for those who cannot commute by bicycle

PortXchange’s main aim is to support its customers to reduce emissions and improve operational efficiency by developing digital tools that can be scaled across ports globally.

Last year, the Company made a public commitment to the environment by building digital solutions that support a reduction in the shipping industry’s carbon footprint.

Through the company’s application, there is an emissions tab which shows users the amount of GHG emissions saved by using PortXchange’s platform as well as guidance on how to reduce CO2 and NOx levels by having vessels arrive at the port just-in-time. The Company, together with Netherlands-based research organisation TNO, is also developing an algorithm to measure and monitor CO2 emissions for ships on passage towards the port and at anchorage, which adds value to port authorities in their pursuit to reduce emissions in the ports and the cities they are part of.

The ecommerce packaging challenge

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The rise and rise of ecommerce, accelerated by the pandemic, brings new challenges for packagers looking to meet their customers’ sustainability targets. Logistics Business editor Paul Hamblin speaks to experts from Sitma about the opportunities.

More parcels in more shapes and sizes means more packaging solutions, whether bagged or boxed. Invention, creativity and practicality are all part of the ingenious processes bringing those new solutions to us.

Then there is sustainability. Everyone cares about the planet, right? Sure, but when you are hit in the pocket it focuses the mind sharply. With the news that the EU is bringing in taxes on the use of plastics, with further restrictions on single-use plastics, it’s time for businesses that rely on packaging quality and cost efficiency to sit up and take notice.

Customers care, too. Research shows that consumers are concerned about environmental issues related to the packaging industry, such as sea pollution, landfill and deforestation; those consumers are taking increasing notice of the packaging their goods arrive in – and, in growing numbers, are making buying decisions partly based on their conclusions.

That’s where Italian packaging experts Sitma come in. The company has an illustrious history in both conveying and packing high-volume items – it made its name wrapping newspapers and magazines for distribution across the world – so it is well placed to lead the field in the ecommerce packaging arena. “It’s well over a decade since we started seeking paper solutions to replace our plastic packaging models, so we’ve been working on this innovation for a long time,” reveals Orsola Cavina, from Sitma’s strategic marketing department. “It means our competences have grown for the benefit of new and existing customers and it was a natural move for us to go into the logistics sector.”

Sitma is using its experience and knowhow to help clients arrive at exactly the right choice for them in terms of their packaging priorities. The company is calling the initiative ‘Zero Impack’. “It is all about giving our customers the possibility to choose,” says Orsola Cavina. Criteria identified include packaging materials, with a preference for renewable, recyclable paper likely to figure strongly where relevant. Sitma’s R&D activities are focused on finding, testing and offering the greatest variety of bio-based materials – examples include paper, bio film, lightweight corrugated cardboard, recycled paper – that can be used within the same machinery portfolio without mixing materials that need to be recycled via different processes (and therefore incurring more time and financial cost).

Choices available to the ecommerce customer – and, it should be pointed out, non-ecommerce customers as well – via the Zero Impack consultancy are pack-to-fit technology, which automatically reduces void-fill and unnecessary surplus packaging; personalisation and branding options and a guidance through the world of sustainable packaging and what the options are. “It can be very confusing, so our customers are, understandably, not always 100% clear on what sustainability small details are,” explains her colleague Denise Gibbin, marketing expert.

Some of the options might surprise – for instance, plastic should not always be demonized, they say. “Sometimes it’s the right choice,” comments Orsola Cavina. But what about paper – should paper not be demonized because it destroys the rainforests, I ask? “No. We are very attentive to research and select only partners and/or suppliers who are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified – fortunately the majority today – and have an active and concrete sustainability policy, so are basically committed to our same goals,” she says.

The result is a range of Sitma solutions which meet global sustainability goals, enhance customer brand value and are able to adapt to meet today’s consumer home delivery requirements cost effectively.

Net Zero Festival showcases global green industrial revolution

Posted on by Keith McKinley

In this pivotal moment in the fight against climate change, decision-makers in Transport and Logistics sector are being called on to attend the forthcoming Net Zero Festival, an event which will give them the inspiration and cutting-edge advice they need to develop and advance their own net zero transition strategies.

Running from 29th September – 1st October, BusinessGreen’s Net Zero Festival, the world’s leading net zero focused event, will bring together many of the world’s top climate experts and inspiring business leaders to offer an exciting forum in which to explore the net zero transition’s immense challenges and opportunities. Through exclusive announcements, original content, expert commentary and the showcasing of the world’s most successful strategies and innovations, the event will throw a spotlight on the global green industrial revolution.

Michael Mann, renowned climate scientist said: “Getting to net zero is a critical goal in addressing the climate crisis; that’s why I’m so pleased to be speaking at this year’s Net Zero Festival. This is a pivotal moment in the climate action movement and the effort to move toward net zero carbon emissions. We can’t allow ourselves to be distracted and dissuaded by polluters and climate inactivists. That’s the take-home message of my book and my presentation.”

In its second year, the annual festival comes at an opportune time, with the UK set to host the critical COP26 Climate Summit this November and thousands of companies now committed to delivering net zero emissions. Free event passes are being offered* to give as many business leaders and sustainability practitioners as possible the tools they need to join the global effort to avert a climate catastrophe.

Inspirational keynote speakers will include:

  • Former Energy and Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd
    NatWest chief executive Alison Rose
    Solar Impulse founder Bertrand Piccard
    MP & President for COP26, The Rt Hon Alok Sharma
    Sir David King, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry – University of Cambridge

They will be joined by a number of other green business experts and sustainability pioneers including:

  • Former Marks and Spencer’s sustainable business director Mike Barry
    Steve Murrells, CEO – The Co-operative Group
    Raymond Blanc, Chef Patron – Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons
    Viki Cooke, Co-Founder & Joint Chair – BritainThinks

Across three days of speeches, workshops and panel events, the speakers will explore key topics and themes shaping the net zero transition; from net zero investment, to public engagement and the need for a just transition. There will also be fringe events and digital content from a raft of partners.

The free passes to the Net Zero Festival have been made possible by the support of its partners: Atkins, BCG, Schroders, Bank of America, Derwent London, Drax, Energy Saving Trust, Engie, GSK, Midrex, Tetra Pak, The Climate Pledge, Volvo and Kingspan.

James Murray, BusinessGreen editor-in-chief said: “We’re thrilled that BusinessGreen is able to offer free passes to this year’s Net Zero Festival to give as many business leaders as possible access to the tools and inspiration they need to accelerate this historic net zero transition. To prosper over the coming decades, every business needs to engage with the critical themes that climate change presents. Whilst there will be many challenges on the journey, we are driven by the belief that a rapid transition towards a net zero economy by 2050 at the latest is not just possible but is hugely desirable and something worth celebrating. We’d encourage all businesses, policy makers and sustainability practitioners to get involved by registering for their pass today.”

CLICK HERE to register for one of the limited-edition free passes.

STILL recognised as sustainability leader

Posted on by David Priestman

Acting responsibly towards the environment, partners, customers, and employees is firmly anchored in STILL‘s corporate philosophy. Therefore, the company has once again undergone a sustainability audit by the international assessment platform EcoVadis this year – with an outstanding result: STILL is awarded the gold sustainability certificate for their commitment regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR).

For 10 years now, STILL has been subject to evaluation by the renowned rating agency EcoVadis. It involves taking a close look at the four major sustainability fields ‘environment’, ‘labour practices and human rights’, ‘fair business practices’ and ‘sustainable procurement’. After achieving very good results in previous years, STILL was awarded the gold sustainability certificate for the first time in 2021.

This puts STILL among the best of the engineering companies examined worldwide by EcoVadis and sets a high standard for forward-thinking, globally active industrial companies. This applies especially to aspects of environmental protection. Here, STILL ranks among the top 1% of all companies assessed in this sector.

Taking responsibility, shaping the future

Operating economically in line with environmental and social standards is a top priority at STILL and forms the basis of all strategic decisions. This includes maximum transparency across the entire value chain, the responsible use of resources from production to disposal, and ensuring and promoting high social and safety standards among suppliers and partners. All these standards are anchored in the company’s philosophy and are practised across all divisions and hierarchies.

In order to make them as transparent as possible for business partners and customers, STILL has its  CSR standards audited by the independent rating agency EcoVadis.

“The gold sustainability certificate is a great acknowledgment of our values and our long-standing efforts,” says Frank Müller, Senior Vice President Brand Management / Sales & Service Steering STILL EMEA. “Especially in view of the current climate situation, there is no alternative to economic practices that focus on the long-term protection and conservation of our global resources.”

CSR – the sales argument of the future

And so certificates like the EcoVadis sustainability medal will become the future quality labels of the economy. Because sustainability and responsibility have never been more in the focus of corporate assessment and international competition than they are today. CSR is no longer a question of image. Rather, operating responsibly together with a value-oriented corporate philosophy have become relevant differentiation criteria and sales arguments in the global competition for customers, orders, and partnerships.

 

 

Half of businesses are not transparent about sustainability

Posted on by Keith McKinley

UK businesses admit they are not being transparent enough with consumers and customers about the true sustainability of their supply chains, research by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) has found.

The survey of 318 UK supply chain managers found that nearly half (48%) do not believe their organisation is transparent enough with consumers, clients and regulators about sustainability, with 19% admitting they don’t even know how sustainable their products are themselves*. However, only 5% feel their marketing actively misleads clients or customers about sustainability.

What are the top barriers preventing businesses from building more sustainable supply chains?

  • The challenges of Covid-19 made it difficult to focus on sustainability – 43%
  • A lack of supply chain sustainability data – 27%
  • The business is unwilling to invest in sustainability – 27%
  • A lack of relevant skills – 22%
  • Senior executives do not see sustainability as a priority – 17%

The news comes as the CMA prepares for a new crackdown on misleading environmental claims made to consumers. The survey suggests that a surprising lack of procurement involvement in setting corporate sustainability strategy in the UK is at least partly to blame. Much of the UK’s carbon footprint is generated abroad, several tiers down the supply chain in the extraction of raw materials, manufacturing of products and transportation.

The procurement function has a crucial role in understanding, measuring and addressing the sustainability of this supply chain but 1 in 5 (19%) of UK supply chain managers said they were not involved at all in their organisation’s sustainability strategy, while 43% said they were only lightly involved. A further 18% said they were unaware of any corporate sustainability strategy at all.

Malcolm Harrison, Group CEO, Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), said:  “The choices UK businesses make ripple through their supply chains to impact everything from water security and carbon emissions, to waste management and deforestation in other countries. Much of an organisation’s environmental impact will be outside their internal boundaries, and it is important that organisations understand this complexity so they can begin to track, communicate, and address the sustainability of their own unique supply chain.

“Collaboration is critical to tackling climate change. This includes internal collaboration, between marketing teams and the supply chain managers, and external collaboration between suppliers across the supply chain. No one organisation can solve climate change on their own and there needs to be more initiatives encouraging competitors to collaborate together to improve the sustainability of common supply chains.

“Sustainability strategy must be led by the CEO but it requires input from across the business and procurement is perhaps the most crucial ingredient. Supply chain managers can take a more active role by improving their skills in this area and being more vocal internally about the importance of supply chains in addressing sustainability issues. We all have a role to play to help meet our climate change goals and the time to act is now.”

Businesses set to miss 2050 net zero target

In 2019 the UK set a goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050, a target with particular importance given the UK’s role as host of the COP26 climate conference at the end of the year. However, two years on from the commitment only 59% of supply chain managers believe they will be able to deliver against the target. Worryingly, 1 in 10 (11%) of UK supply chain managers said their business has done nothing since 2019 to improve the sustainability of their supply chains.

There have, however, been some positive signs of progress with 53% stating that since 2019 they have begun taking sustainability into account when choosing suppliers and 36% saying they have redesigned products to reduce waste, increased the use of recyclables or introduced more sustainable materials.

* Findings were drawn from a survey of 318 UK supply chain managers. The survey ran from 28th July to 10th August 2021.

 

 

Ocado invests in further CNG station

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Ocado Group has reaffirmed its transition to alternative fuels by signing a deal to open a further natural gas refuelling station at its Dordon Customer Fulfilment Centre.

In January 2019, the online supermarket became the first UK retailer to self-fund the purchase of an onsite grid-connected gas refuelling station at its depot in Hatfield.

The new facility at Dordon is due to open in Q2 2022 and will again be designed and built by Gasrec – the UK’s largest supplier of gas to the road transport sector – to fuel the 10 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tractor units already running from the site and allow for the remaining Dordon tractor fleet (70 total) to transition from diesel to blended biomethane.

Graham Thomas, Fleet Operations Manager at Ocado Group, says: “The results we have seen since beginning our switch to gas have been fantastic and shown that we are on the right path to a cleaner, more environmentally-friendly future.

“This new facility at Dordon will allow us to get more gas trucks on the road and access delivery routes further up the country with our CNG fleet.”

The facility at Dordon will be a tanker fed operation, with Ocado signing a 10-year supply agreement with Gasrec. With 60 natural gas-powered trucks operating from Hatfield and Dordon, this latest development will allow Ocado to more than double their total CNG units over the next three years, with over two thirds of its total fleet running on natural gas.

“We are committed to transitioning away from diesel and the performance of the IVECO gas trucks we have in service, as well as the resilience of the facilities and support Gasrec has provided for us so far, has only strengthened our conviction,” adds Thomas.

Environmental benefits of switching to natural gas include 99% fewer particulate emissions and 70% less nitrogen oxide than the latest diesel standard. Natural gas-powered vehicles are also, on average, 10db quieter than diesel vehicles, significantly reducing their impact in residential areas.

Gasrec currently supplies a minimum 50% biomethane blend to Ocado, meaning significant reductions in CO2 output – up to 68% across the fleet calculated from the total amount of biomethane used. Going forward, the mix of biomethane is being increased, making further inroads to cleaner transport.

James Westcott, Chief Commercial Officer at Gasrec, says: “Ocado Group continues to take great strides in reducing the carbon footprint of its transport operation. We have built a fantastic working relationship with them over the past few years and are delighted they have chosen us again to build and deliver the new refuelling site in Dordon.”

Battery charging technology aids sustainable logistics

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Battery charging technology and photovoltaics offer the perfect combination for green logistics, according to experts from Fronius.

The UK has set itself a target to bring greenhouse gas emissions down to net zero by 2050. Although this seems like a long way off, it is important that businesses start to think about their role in achieving this target and making a better, greener world for our future generations. With this end goal in mind, energy efficiency experts at Fronius are able to help their customers take the right steps towards CO­2 neutral logistics.

Companies are currently being confronted with sharply increasing electricity prices and ever stricter environmental protection requirements, coupled with changing consumer perceptions on packaging and an increase in green thinking. Seasonal peaks also present a big challenge, increasing energy consumption, and consequently driving costs and CO2­ emissions upward. In addition to efficiency and cost effectiveness, sustainability is also becoming an increasingly important subject across all sectors.

“It is apparent to us that there is a clear trend in companies wanting to reduce their CO2­ emissions and decarbonise but they are looking for feasible and practical solutions. This is what Fronius offers,” explains Beate Ruebig, Managing Director of Fronius UK. “We pride ourselves on being able to support our customers on their way to a greener logistics operation. In order to do this, our energy efficiency experts can look at the potential savings within the current operation by using Fronius solutions to reduce their ecological footprint.”

Specialising in highly efficient and intelligent conversion and control of energy for 75 years, Milton Keynes-based Fronius offer a complete package for the intralogistics industry with their energy efficient battery chargers for material handling equipment and a unique solar lease offering – both guaranteed to make savings on energy costs and reduce CO­2 emissions – making a holistic and intelligent approach to meeting the net zero targets of 2050 from a single source.

Solar powering your business

Energy costs make up a significant portion of an organisation’s overheads. Workstations, printers, machinery, forklift truck charging, lighting, air conditioning, EV charging; the list of energy hungry appliances is exhaustive, but despite the development of more efficient technologies, we continue to encounter constant energy price increases and the emergence of new electricity-reliant innovations.

The use of renewable energy, and a photovoltaic system in particular, plays a big part on the road to the 2050 targets. Distribution centres with their large, flat roofs are ideal sites for a solar PV system. The self-generated energy that they produce can power those energy hungry consumables typically found within a business, such as forklift trucks, ensuring greater independence from the grid, protecting them from energy price rises and lowering CO2­ emissions whilst taking a big step towards greater sustainability.

Many businesses worry about the initial upfront investment required to install a PV system with the ROI taking years. This is where Fronius has a solution.

With their short and unique leasing model, it is possible to achieve huge savings on your energy bill from day one, with zero upfront investment. Unlike Power Purchase Agreements, where you sell your generated electricity to offset grid electricity and the system cost, this model simply allows you to lease the equipment required to generate your own green electricity over a 15 year period, with the option of ownership thereafter.

This simple lease plan means businesses could produce their own green energy with fixed monthly payments being lower than the cost of that same electricity if purchased from the energy supplier. Complete with a production guarantee, total project management, installation and maintenance plan, this lease really is a win-win.

Energy savings inside and out

Fronius’ capabilities reach further than the roof of a warehouse but to the internal operation too. With the most progressive technology available on the market for charging traction batteries for electric forklift trucks, the Selectiva 4.0 charger range offers intelligent functions and an extremely gentle and energy-efficient process for charging lead-acid, lead-crystal, CSM and gel batteries.

The intelligent charging characteristic adapts to the state of each battery depending on its age, temperature and overall health ensuring an ultra-cool and gentle charge that will save on operating costs, electricity and reduce CO2­ at the same time.

“This technology coupled with the energy generated from your roof, can make substantial savings for a business and improve its sustainability,” explains Ruebig.

 

Kite releases affordable eco-friendly chilled packaging

Posted on by Keith McKinley

When transporting temperature-sensitive items such as food or pharmaceuticals, insulating packaging is essential. Historically, environmentally damaging polystyrene has been the only option, but Kite Packaging has recently released an innovative corrugated box liner.

This thermal lining is 100% recyclable, low-cost and boasts the same temperature controlling qualities as polystyrene. The company conducted a series of externally verified tests to confirm this, revealing that at room temperature (23°C) the corrugated liners can keep the contents of a box below 0°C for 35 hours while being used in conjunction with our gel packs.

The BC flute corrugation also provides superb shock absorption alongside thermal regulation to protect products from both damage and changes in temperature that may affect their integrity. The liners comprise of two pads for the top and bottom box faces and different-sized packs for each side. When fitted to exactly match the interior of the corresponding sized carton, every surface area of the box is thermally lined with a material designed to resist the influence of external conditions.

Kite’s eco-friendly addition to the chilled packaging range works excellently in conjunction with its other products. It also supplies ice sheets, gel packs, thermal pallet covers, temperature-controlled pouches for smaller items and temperature indicators to gauge when a maximum threshold may have been breached.

By balancing environmental considerations with a focus on economic viability, the corrugated box liners identify themselves as a disruptive development with the potential to transform how items within the chilled food industry are packaged.

Caigan launches hydrogen vehicle conversion service

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Caigan Vehicle Technologies Ltd. has entered the zero-carbon transport market with an innovative hydrogen fuel cell conversion for internal combustion engine vehicles.

Based in South Lanarkshire, Caigan’s engineers can replace a petrol or diesel engine with a complete hydrogen fuel cell power system to eliminate harmful emissions entirely. This novel approach allows fleet managers to gradually upgrade in order to meet targets without the cost and disruption of replacing all of their vehicles.

The conversion process involves removing the existing engine and fuel system and retrofitting a hydrogen storage tank, a fuel cell to convert the hydrogen gas to electricity, a traction battery and an electric drive motor.

Caigan Managing Director Steve Turner (pictured) said: “Companies and organisations are under growing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint and there won’t be enough electric vehicles to meet demand as deadlines approach. We can design and integrate a hydrogen powertrain with negligible reduction in payload and range when compared to petrol or diesel power. This option allows fleet managers to upgrade their high-value assets and keep them in service instead of coming under pressure to dispose of them before good alternatives are available.

“Hydrogen fuel cell technology isn’t a compromise or a half measure. Fuel cells only emit water vapour and a little heat so harmful tailpipe emissions are zero. The most polluting vehicles can drive into our workshop and drive out with no emissions at all. The latest fuel cell cars actually clean the air as they drive which is a game-changer for the environment.”

As well as the environmental and compliance benefits, Caigan also expect a converted vehicle to have significantly lower running and maintenance costs compared to original specification.

With its focus set on medium-duty (3.5-7.5t) vehicles, Caigan is looking towards local councils, emergency services and similar fleets as ideal candidates for its conversion packages.

Green Cubes appoints industry veteran as COO

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Green Cubes Technology, a leader in producing Lithium-ion (Li-ion) power systems that facilitate the transition from lead acid batteries and Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) power to green Li-ion battery power, has appointed Ken Johnson as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Johnson reports to Keith Washington, President and CEO of Green Cubes, supporting all business units and operations.

Johnson provides leadership to supply chain, operations, and manufacturing roles to build processes for continued growth for Green Cubes within telecom, materials handling, and industrial automation markets. Johnson will manage Green Cube’s production facilities in Malaysia, Slovakia, Kokomo (Indiana), and Dunlap (Tennessee).

“Ken has led both domestic and international operations and supply chains through new product introduction, lean transformations, inventory reductions and overall working capital improvement,” said Washington. “I am confident his experience and focused vision will help Green Cubes successfully execute its continued growth within strategic markets and geographic locations.”

Johnson has a history of success in energy storage and power electronics technology as an operations leader with a demonstrated track record of success in these markets, spending over 25 years in global manufacturing and supply chain with companies such as IBM, Danaher, Eaton and Active Power.  The range of products manufactured under Johnson’s supervision includes personal computers, motors, DC power systems and single-phase/three-phase complex Uninterruptable Power System (UPS).    Johnson graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering degree from Texas A&M in Industrial Engineering.

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