Everyone Wants Green: How Climate Change Affects Logistics
Climate change is one of the most popular topics in Europe. It occupies the economy, politics and society. Everyone wants to make the world a greener place - but the HOW polarises the opinions of those in charge and of individuals. What influence does climate change have on logistics? And can logistics actually be CO₂-neutral?
Climate change has an impact on the transport and logistics industry. Rail freight transport is blocked by extreme weather events, falling water levels make water transport routes impassable and ports are flooded by high water. Companies are encouraged to further develop climate strategies with regard to energy consumption and CO₂ emissions.
To this end, the financial impact on one's company must also be assessed. Higher truck toll costs due to increasing pricing of CO₂ emissions are only one consequence. The EU's goal of being climate-neutral by 2050 is a major challenge for the transport and logistics sector.
Austria wants to implement seamless, emission-free operation of vehicles in freight transport by 2035. In this context, the focus is increasingly on alternative drives in freight, air and shipping transport. Hydrogen, electric or e-fuel (synthetic fuel) drives will be considered emission-free. Hurdles to the practical implementation of electric drives in the transport sector also lie in the charging infrastructure and the charging time. The government's regulations and proposals will challenge many small and medium-sized enterprises.
Three examples of decarbonisation in the economic sector
Loading technology
Combined freight transport seems to be a good way of transporting freight in a CO₂-saving way, mainly by ship and rail. At the Port of Vienna, a new loading technique has recently been introduced to counteract climate change and the shortage of lorry drivers: by means of a hydraulic ramp that can be extended from the side, semi-trailers can now be transported more easily onto the wagon. In this way, instead of 10 % as before, around 90 % can be transported by rail in future. A whole train replaces 52 trucks!
Digitisation
From August 2024, the "eFTI Regulation EU 2020/1056" (Electronic Freight Transport Information) is to be introduced in Europe. This will declare war on the masses of paper in transport logistics. Data transmission between companies and authorities is to be carried out electronically. It is still being examined whether this will be mandatory for companies from 2029. The use of e-freight documents is therefore currently voluntary.
However, the advantage lies not only in saving paper. The administrative effort and associated costs are reduced enormously. The status of the freight can be checked in real-time. Thanks to electronic signatures, there is no need to carry paper consignment notes in the truck and sign them on the spot. The system sends the e-freight documents directly to the parties involved through digital interfaces.
In practice, it is necessary to send the original freight documents to the client to make the transport claim due. This often causes delays in the payment process to the detriment of the carrier. With the regulation, principals can immediately access the original documents and delays in payment can be prevented. However, the regulation does not only cover freight accompanying documents but also licences, permits, electronic invoices, dangerous goods information or waste shipment notifications.
Biofuel in Formula 1
Logistics service provider DHL is partnering with Formula 1 to use 18 trucks powered by biofuel for the first time for the 2023 season. The new trucks will be powered by the drop-in fuel HVO100. Renewable fuel is made from used cooking oils, vegetable oils, residues and animal fats. This is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by 60 % per truck.
The road to climate-neutral logistics is still long. In order to achieve this goal, there will have to be further talks between the government and industry representatives.
Photos: Shutterstock
