Pointing to escalating global temperatures and increasing climate-related challenges, while noting that the shipping industry accounts for 2-3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the CEOs underscored the urgency of meeting IMO’s greenhouse gas-reduction targets for 2030, 2040, and net-zero emissions by 2050. They stated that transitioning from fossil to green fuels at scale and pace is the most feasible route to achieve these ambitious goals. The CEOs, representing frontrunners in introducing lower GHG emission ships, highlighted a desire for closer collaboration with IMO regulators. 

Their joint declaration outlines four key regulatory cornerstones necessary for effective and concrete policy measures:

1. End Date for Fossil Fuel-Only Vessels: A timeline for phasing out new fossil fuel-only vessels and implementing a GHG Intensity Standard to inspire investment confidence in new ships and the necessary fuel supply infrastructure.
2. Effective GHG Pricing Mechanism: Ensuring competitiveness of green fuels during the transition phase, with a mechanism distributing the green fuel premium across all fossil fuel usage and incentivizing deeper emissions reductions.
3. Vessel Pooling Option: Allowing compliance with GHG regulations based on the performance of groups of vessels rather than individual ships to accelerate decarbonization across the global fleet.
4. Lifecycle GHG Regulatory Basis: Aligning investment decisions with climate goals and mitigating the risk of stranded assets.

Expressing a shared conviction, the industry leaders emphasized their support for regulation aimed at mitigating the cost of the green transition. They anticipate broader industry participation and support, citing a belief that the cost of climate change outweighs the transition costs.

Commenting on this noteworthy collaboration, CEOs from major shipping companies echoed their commitment to collective action:

• Rodolphe Saadé, CMA CGM Group: Stressed the importance of collaboration and collective commitment towards achieving ambitious decarbonization milestones.
• Vincent Clerc, A.P. Moller – Maersk: Emphasized the necessity of efficient regulatory conditions to drive maximum GHG emission reductions.
• Rolf Habben Jansen, Hapag-Lloyd: Reiterated the commitment to advancing maritime decarbonization through clear targets and a regulatory framework.
• Soren Toft, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company: Highlighted the need for concrete measures and global support for alternative fuels to achieve net-zero emissions.
• Lasse Kristoffersen, Wallenius Wilhelmsen: Underlined the industry’s proactive role in supporting net-zero ambitions and called for a global regulatory framework to align with these objectives.

This unified initiative signals a striking willingness to enact changes aimed at driving a more sustainable shipping industry, and elevating global decarbonization efforts.

4 Tips to Transition to an EV Fleet

By: Jeff Wood, Senior Vice President, Operations, Wesco

Supply chain professionals face several daunting challenges as they prepare to electrify their transportation fleet—from production delays to the development of charging hardware, vehicle load capacity considerations, vehicle range limits, and implementation of charging infrastructure.

As fleet managers look to navigate these challenges, here are four practical tips to support a seamless transition to electric vehicles.

1. Consolidate all operational data. Before starting out, make sure you have a full understanding of your fleet’s operational data. How much do you spend per month on fuel and maintenance? How many vehicles are nearing the end of their lifecycle? How many miles do your vehicles travel in a typical shift, and how many stops do they make? What kinds of jobs are they performing? Having all this data in one place tells a comprehensive story to isolate where and when EVs are the best option for your business and your customers.

2. Analyze sustainability goals and budget. How many vehicles will be cycled out annually and how much will this cost? What role will the total cost of ownership play? While EVs are generally more expensive, reduced spending on fuel and maintenance over time can outweigh the higher initial purchase cost. There are also tax credits or other government incentives on many EV models that could factor into budgeting decisions.

At the same time, analyze your company’s sustainability goals to determine how much of an impact this will make toward achieving those goals—and if the associated costs of doing so warrants the budget required to get there. It’s also important to factor in how new laws, such as California’s carbon emissions reporting legislation, might factor into the decisionmaking process.

3. Keep communication lines open among key stakeholders during the transition period. There is always a learning curve when an organization decides to implement EVs. It’s important to involve key stakeholders throughout the process to get buy-in and understand how operations may be impacted. Once deployed, fleet managers should keep in close contact with drivers, maintenance, and operations to understand how EVs are performing relative to initial goals.

4. Consider strategic partners to execute the transition process. Many fleet managers may not have the in-house resources to effectively manage the initial transition to EV fleets, especially if that requires adding charging infrastructure. External partners can provide value by helping fleet managers understand the full scope of the project, as well as any other needs that they may not have considered.

50,000+

Number of Tesla superchargers worldwide

15 minutes

Time it takes to recharge up to 200 miles

Need a Cab? Look Up

In October 2023, Boeing’s electric flying taxi company, Wisk Aero, became the first air taxi company to hold public electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) demonstration flights at the Long Beach Airport.

The demo, using Wisk’s 5th gen eVTOL, allowed the company to run an autonomous flight alongside other passenger airlines in a complex, real-life situation.

ABCs of EV Batteries

Electric vehicle (EV) batteries power electric cars the same way gas powers internal combustion engined cars. Electric vehicles get all their power directly from a pack of batteries, typically placed under the floor in the center of the vehicle. Rather than a single battery, EV batteries use a pack comprised of thousands of individual Li-ion cells that work together.

Unlike batteries in most vehicles, which are primarily used to run accessories or start the engine, EV batteries run everything. They need to be powerful and long-lasting enough to take drivers to their destination while keeping the need to recharge to a minimum.

How do EV batteries work? When a truck or car is charging, electrical energy is routed to the battery system, resulting in chemical changes inside the battery pack that effectively store that energy for subsequent use.

While someone drives an EV, however, these chemical changes are reversed in order to release an electrical current to power the motors in the EV’s wheels. When a driver steps on the accelerator, the EV immediately feeds power to the motors, which gradually consume the power in the batteries.

How are EV batteries made? EV batteries are made using a combination of base metals and rare earth elements such as lithium, manganese, nickel, cobalt, aluminum, iron, and other elements including carbon or graphite. These elements are combined with electrolytes to produce an electric current that each cell of the battery systems generates.

Battery cells are wired together to generate the necessary voltage and amperage to power the vehicle’s motors and generate motion.

Approximately 80% of the components are recyclable, so when batteries reach the end of their lifecycle, they can be stripped down and their parts can be reused.

Transport Companies Charge Ahead

Transportation and logistics companies continue to incorporate electric trucks into their fleets for several reasons: to reduce their environmental impact and meet increasing customer demand for sustainable transportation, and reduce fuel and maintenance costs.

Among the leading transportation companies to implement electric trucks are:

• Amazon has partnered with Rivian to develop and deploy electric delivery vans. The company has already begun to take delivery of these vans and plans to have 100,000 electric vans in its fleet by 2030.
• FedEx has partnered with BrightDrop, a subsidiary of General Motors, to develop and deploy electric delivery vans. The company has already taken delivery of 150 BrightDrop Zevo 600 vans and plans to have 2,500 electric vans in its fleet by 2025.
• UPS has partnered with Arrival to develop and deploy electric delivery vans. The company has already placed an order for 10,000 Arrival vans and plans to have 25,000 electric vans in its fleet by 2025.
• BrightDrop is a subsidiary of General Motors that is developing and deploying electric delivery vans and trucks. The company has already partnered with FedEx and Walmart to deploy its vehicles.
• DHL has partnered with a number of companies to develop and deploy electric trucks and vans. The company has already deployed thousands of electric vehicles and plans to have 80,000 electric vehicles in its fleet by 2030.

Vanessa Coleman CEO, Oceanworks

More than 11 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the oceans each year, says a 2022 United Nations report. Vanessa Coleman’s company, Los Angeles-based Oceanworks, seeks to halt that pollution. The company helps brand owners source recycled materials and lets them buy credits that fund the removal of plastic waste from the environment.

Oceanworks is the third venture Coleman has helped to launch since her days as an engineering grad student at MIT. “I’m an entrepreneur at heart,” she says. “I like creating things in the world that weren’t there before.”

Coleman gave us a look at how she leads Oceanworks and some of the company’s exciting recent activities.

IL: How and why did you come to co-found Oceanworks?

I’d been reading a lot about the challenges our oceans are facing. Also, through my travels—partly with Saha Global, the nonprofit I helped to found in Africa—I’d experienced the increase in plastic waste in the environment worldwide. In places where there used to be land or a beach, there’s now a mass of plastic waste. I wondered how to create solutions that might help accelerate the reclamation of that waste at scale.

Then one of my investors connected me with Rob Ianelli [now the company’s president], who had the original concept that ultimately turned into Oceanworks. He made sunglasses out of recycled ocean plastic and wanted to scale that concept with larger brands that had big supply chains. He and I started working together, and we built the company from there.

IL: What prompts manufacturers to work with your company?

Based on their own corporate goals or customer desires, manufacturers often look for more sustainable material streams. They need competitive costs, quality, and reliability at scale.

We provide access to feedstock that they wouldn’t be able to access otherwise. They can get traceability, allowing them to document claims about the origins of their recycled content. And they can count on us for reliability and capacity.

IL: What early experiences helped shape you as a leader?

I was first exposed to entrepreneurship through a graduate course at MIT called Energy Ventures. Engineering and business students formed teams to take forward a business idea. Once we developed some ideas, we started talking to potential customers. It shocked me that you could just call people on the phone and ask if they needed this idea you had. People are willing to take the time because they see value in bringing new things to their business.

If we talk to enough of them, we can understand how to put together technologies and business opportunities to make something real and new. That has defined much of my career.

IL: Is there something you have changed your mind about since the early days of your career?

I used to assume that people in big companies wanted to innovate. I still find that this is true of leaders. But it turns out that the bulk of most organizations, the rank and file, face incentives to do just the opposite. If you take a risk and it goes wrong, someone has to take the blame.

We have to be very aware of that at Oceanworks, because there’s a bias toward using fossil-based plastics in all products. When you introduce something new, you have to realize that the resistance you face often comes down to a desire not to be first, to let someone else make the mistakes.

IL: Do you try to make Oceanworks a safe place to take risks?

I do. We talk about the fact that you need to take 10 shots on a goal in order to score. Not everything you try will work, and that’s okay.

We need to be reliable on the operations side. But we also need to maintain an innovative mindset. If we deliver containers, store materials, and source the way everybody else has done it, we will never improve the status quo.

IL: What characteristics make you an effective leader?

I’m a good listener, both within the company and when I talk with customers and markets. I ask questions that elicit new information, hear where people are coming from, assimilate that information, and then show a bias for action.

I also think every good entrepreneur needs to be persistent. I like to joke that you have to stick around long enough to get lucky. Persistence and the ability to identify and capitalize on opportunities help me anchor and encourage the team as we grow in what is fundamentally a difficult space.

IL: What is Oceanworks doing that’s new and interesting?

We’re developing traceability technology to validate the recycled content in a company’s material stream and the origin of that material. We use a blockchain-based system to log all the information about materials into an immutable record. On top of that, we’ve built some visualization tools, so a user can follow the material through the supply chain.

IL: What have you read lately that has made an impression?

A Poison Like No Other: How Microplastics Corrupted Our Planet and Our Bodies by Matt Simon. It reinforced my sense that we’re already late to the game of getting plastics out of the environment.

IL: What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Find a way to work on things you’re really passionate about, because that creates a fun life. And push yourself to be one of the experts in things that you’re excited about working on.

IL: Outside of work, how do you like to spend your time?

I spend time with my three kids, who are five, two, and newborn. We love to go boating and skiing, and go to the beach and the mountains. I live on Cape Cod in the summer and Maui the rest of the year, so I get continuous exposure to the “why” behind what we do at Oceanworks.

Dinner Conversation

If Vanessa Coleman could have dinner with anyone, alive today or from history, she’d actually arrange three meals.

The first would be with former Vice President Al Gore. “He was fighting the battle against climate change early on,” she says. “He was making movies, trying to run for President, trying to enact policy. Now he’s an investor in the climate space. I’d like to hear his thoughts on what works, what is still needed, and how this might apply to the problems I’m working on.”

Dinner companion number two would be environmentalist and author Rachel Carson. And number three would be the social media influencer known as MrBeast. “He has built a huge following by doing big, interesting stunts,” Coleman says.

For instance, he has raised millions of dollars for removing plastic waste from the oceans. “I would be intrigued to hear how he built his following and influence in this new type of media,” she says.

This article offers insights into green logistics and its importance in fostering sustainable solutions in the industry and how it impacts the supply chain. Understand how companies, influenced by customer demand and eco-conscious values, prioritize sustainability for a brighter, cleaner future.

How Green Logistics Works in the Supply Chain

Green logistics involves implementing sustainable practices in logistics operations to reduce the environmental impact. By incorporating green logistics strategies, businesses can contribute to environmental sustainability and find ways to save money and boost their brand image. 

These strategies focus on reducing waste, fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy consumption while ensuring efficient supply chain management. A shining example is UPS, which adopted route optimization for its delivery vehicles, resulting in fewer shipments and lower fuel consumption. Such successes show how a shift toward sustainable logistics benefits the planet and the company’s bottom line.

As a logistics company explores sustainable options, harnessing new technological advances plays a significant role. Integrating AI technology offers predictive analytics that utilizes the optimization of supply routes and inventory management. 

Similarly, blockchain technology allows transparent and efficient supply chain tracking and builds confidence in stakeholders by maintaining environmentally friendly practices. Thus, leveraging these technologies expedites the shift toward more sustainable logistics operations.

Regenerating a Supply Chain by Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The global concern about rising greenhouse gas emissions pushed logistics providers to consider eco-friendly practices.

Challenges: High upfront investment in sustainable materials and alternative fuels, resistance to change within traditional supply chains, and the pressure of competitive advantage in logistics processes can create barriers.

Benefits: Reduced carbon dioxide emissions, improved brand reputation, and potential cost savings in the long run.

Deterrent or Duty?: While some see it as a hefty investment, the long-term advantages and the growing customer demand for environmentally conscious businesses make it an essential duty.

The emergence of digital platforms and software applications aids in tracking a company’s carbon footprint in real time and offers invaluable insights into logistics processes. Such tools enable businesses to develop action plans, target specific areas, and track the progress of their carbon footprint.

Importance of Collecting CO2 Data

Accurate collection and analysis of CO2 data is paramount in the logistics industry.

Challenges: The accuracy of tools to measure carbon footprint and other metrics across the industry and costs associated with data collection systems.

Benefits: Understanding a company’s environmental footprint allows for targeted sustainability efforts and showcases transparency in the supply chain to customers.

Deterrent or Duty?: With increasing regulations and growing awareness of climate change, CO2 data collection is becoming a requisite for businesses.

With the adoption of IoT (Internet of Things) devices, companies have an unprecedented level of granular data. Combined with analytics, this data provides actionable insights for better fleet management, load optimization, and route planning, ensuring the least environmental impact possible.

Carbon Offsetting Tactics Make a Difference

Companies are considering carbon offsetting as essential to their green logistics strategy.

Challenges: Identifying genuine offset projects and understanding the real-world impact of these projects and the potential cost of investing in these initiatives.

Benefits: Directly contributes to reducing the impact of carbon emissions on the environment and enhances brand image.

Deterrent or Duty?: As the detrimental effects of carbon emissions become more evident, carbon offsetting transforms from a good-to-have initiative to a necessary business practice.

Collaborations with environmental NGOs and agencies can offer insights and support for companies venturing into carbon offsetting. Such collaborations also provide a credible front to the company’s efforts, as these agencies are often recognized for their work in environmental conservation.

Alternate Fuel Choices and Environmental Impact

Alternative fuels, such as biofuels and hydrogen, present opportunities for the logistics sector.

Challenges: Infrastructure for alternative fuel vehicles, initial investment costs, and the time to see a return on investment.

Benefits: Significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, lower transportation costs, and a shift away from reliance on fossil fuels.

Deterrent or Duty?: As fossil fuel reserves deplete and their impact on the environment becomes clearer, turning to alternative fuels isn’t just an option but a pressing need.

In the realm of biofuels, advancements in algae-based fuels present exciting possibilities. 

Algae-derived biofuels are more sustainable, don’t compete with food sources, and can be grown in diverse environments. Thus, their integration into the logistics sector could be transformative.

Electric Delivery Methods

The advent of electric vehicles (EVs) is reshaping the logistics industry.

Challenges: High initial costs, limited battery range, and a lack of charging infrastructure affect the supply chain.

Benefits: Drastic reduction in carbon emissions, energy savings, and reduced noise pollution.

Deterrent or Duty?: The push towards EVs is undeniable. With the dual benefits of environmental conservation and potential long-term savings, electric delivery methods are replacing the industry standard.

Innovation in battery technology, such as solid-state batteries, promises longer battery life and faster charging times. Coupled with solar charging stations and renewable energy sources, the future of electric transportation in the logistics sector seems brighter than ever.

Green Logistics and Reducing Carbon Footprints

In an era dominated by global discussions around climate change, the shipping industry is under intense scrutiny. Transport vessels emit significant greenhouse gasses and impact our environment. Consequently, the ripple effect of this pollution is extensive. 

It negatively affects the environment and a company’s brand image, customer relationships, and operational costs.

Adopting green logistics becomes an environmental imperative and a strategic move for businesses seeking long-term viability and growth.

Create Customer Awareness

Engaging customers in the sustainability journey is paramount. By raising awareness about a company’s eco-logistics efforts, businesses can fortify trust and loyalty among existing customers while attracting a new, environmentally-conscious clientele. Transparent communication about sustainability can reinvigorate old relations and set the foundation for future partnerships.

Leveraging digital platforms and social media can amplify the message. Companies can foster a community of eco-conscious consumers and stakeholders by sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of sustainable initiatives, stories of successful green transitions, or even educational content about the environment.

Regenerating Route Maps and Capturing Energy Savings

Switching to efficient route maps and delivery methods sets companies on a new growth trajectory. Through optimized route planning, companies minimize fuel consumption and thereby reduce carbon emissions. Furthermore, by exploring alternative energy-saving delivery methods, businesses can diminish their environmental footprint while capturing significant energy and cost savings.

Reduce, Recycle, and Promote Green Logistics

Embracing the reduction, recycling, and reuse principles can profoundly transform logistics practices. By reducing waste, especially in packaging and recycling materials, companies significantly diminish their environmental footprint. Promoting alternative delivery methods and integrating them into the core logistics network is the future of sustainable and eco-friendly operations.

Challenges Facing Green Logistics Industry

Transitioning to green logistics has its challenges. Companies depend on high upfront investments, struggle with resistance within their operations, and battle a labyrinth of regulations and standards that are challenging to navigate.

Cost of Going Green

Embracing sustainable practices demands a generous upfront investment. From overhauling fleets with eco-friendly vehicles to implementing sophisticated tracking systems for carbon emissions, the initial costs are daunting and make businesses hesitant to convert to green solutions.

Partnering With Green Solution Companies

Building partnerships with green logistics providers can be a catalyst for sustainable transformation. These collaborations offer access to cutting-edge technologies, shared expertise, and best practices. However, fostering such relationships requires trustworthy alignment regarding values, goals, and long-term vision.

Benefits of Switching

Opting for green logistics solutions transcends environmental benefits. In the long run, companies will harvest significant cost savings through energy efficiency and waste reduction. Additionally, adopting eco-friendly practices enhances brand reputation within a growing segment of environmentally-conscious consumers and positions the business as a forward-thinking industry leader.

Top Tips for Going to Green Logistics

While the transition to green logistics encompasses many challenges, exciting, innovative tools and strategies continually emerge to facilitate this shift. By harnessing these resources, companies can mitigate environmental impact while optimizing their operations.

Alternative Green Shipping Materials

Sustainable packaging materials like biodegradable plastics or reused cardboard significantly reduce waste. Websites like the Sustainable Packaging Coalition offer insights and guidelines on choosing eco-friendly alternatives for shipping needs.

Impact of Shipping Full-Loads and Space-Saving Tips

Maximizing load capacity reduces the trip cost by reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Resources like the National Industrial Transportation League provide guidelines on efficient load planning and space optimization.

Reducing Customer Returns Effectively

Implementing robust quality checks and accurate product descriptions can minimize return rates. Reverse logistics strategies and best practices reduce and manage returns sustainably.

Strategies for No-Fail Deliveries

Leveraging technology for real-time tracking, route optimization, and predictive analytics can ensure timely and accurate deliveries. Many organizations offer initiative green logistics tools and strategies to enhance delivery accuracy and efficiency.

Re-Thinking Carbon Emissions

Considering carbon offset programs or investing in alternative fuel vehicles plays a prominent role in diminishing carbon footprints. The Carbon Fund is an excellent resource for companies seeking to offset emissions and contribute to global sustainability projects.

Management Role in Green Logistics

Leadership’s commitment is pivotal for successful implementation. By setting clear sustainability goals, managers can drive organizational change. The Environmental Leader offers case studies and insights on how top executives can champion green initiatives in the logistics sector.

Why Green Logistics Companies Matter

The rise of green logistics companies symbolizes a revolutionary shift in the logistics industry, emphasizing sustainability and eco-friendly practices. Eco-conscious companies like DHL, with its GoGreen program, and UPS, with its alternative fuel fleet, project the industry’s evolution towards reducing carbon emissions and championing environmental stewardship.

FAQs

Diving into some of the commonly asked questions about green logistics.

What is meant by green logistics?

Green logistics refers to optimizing logistics and supply chain operations in an eco-friendly manner, minimizing environmental impact.

What are examples of green logistics?

Examples include using electric delivery vehicles, optimizing routes to save fuel, and utilizing biodegradable packaging materials.

Is Green Logistics a real company?

No, Green Logistics isn’t a specific company. It’s a term referring to sustainable and eco-friendly logistics practices.

Key Takeaways on Implementing Green Logistics

Embracing green logistics and other efficient logistics processes isn’t just a trend; it’s necessary for the environment and business longevity.

Implementing green logistics strategies allows companies to reduce their carbon footprint, optimize operations, and resonate with environmentally conscious consumers. As the logistics sector continues to evolve, prioritizing sustainability will be paramount.

Green careers boost sustainability

Identifying opportunities where a company can reduce its carbon footprint is the first important step in acting. Gathering sustainability metrics and carbon offsets may require onboarding more talent with knowledge and background in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), and Environmental Health & Safety (EHS).

Almost every job description in the supply chain mentions sustainability, and hiring managers are prioritizing candidates who have a background in EHS, whether that’s in their degree or job experience.

However, this is not limited to certain executive roles like chief sustainability officer. Companies are looking for candidates with technical EHS backgrounds across the board so that the entire team shares the burden of sustainability while implementing more eco-friendly strategies, rather than placing the responsibility on one person.

On the flip side, candidates are looking for companies that value sustainability and whether or not their values align. For many, it could be a driving strategy or change in mindset, while for others, it might be a social purpose—they will look at the core business function to see if it aligns with their personal values or goals.

After the foundation has been set with talent who can think holistically about sustainable business practices, then it’s time to make changes. Here are a few suggestions to consider when identifying opportunities to reduce last-mile delivery’s carbon footprint.

Move to micro-fulfillment. Moving product closer to consumers may help solve sustainability issues by reducing the climate impact from larger warehouse facilities and traffic congestion.

Micro-fulfillment centers in the form of smaller warehouse facilities, automated lockers, and click-and-collect points could reduce vehicle-related emissions by 16-26% by 2025, according to Accenture.

Sustainable and efficient packaging options. Looking into efficient packaging options that require fewer vehicles to go out on the road is a critical aspect of last-mile sustainability. More than shipping efficiency, looking into more sustainable options for the packages themselves could be the key to reducing waste generated in the supply chain.

Reducing the amount of waste produced by home deliveries through sustainable or eco-friendly packaging is a huge step in decreasing the supply chains’ overall environmental impact, especially in last-mile delivery.

Invest in carbon offsets. Planting trees, using solar or wind energy, or re-distributing resources like heat to offset emissions produced by the supply chain can make the last-mile more eco-friendly. If successful, offset investment could be increased to reduce emissions from the whole of the supply chain.

There are plenty of opportunities within the last mile or through personnel to make meaningful changes for greater sustainability, before it’s too late.

A. Duie Pyle

www.aduiepyle.com

A. Duie Pyle invested in solar panels for its Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, warehouse, enabling the 570,000-square-foot facility to run on 100% solar energy. Additionally, it installed tube lights that reflect sunlight, eliminating the use of electric lights during the day. The company also installed radiant-heat flooring and motion-activated lighting to reduce energy costs. It plans to purchase two fully electric trucks and charging stations by early 2025. Pyle has switched nearly half of its facilities to electric forklifts and anticipates 100% implementation by 2028.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

In 2022, Pyle’s dedicated division was named a SmartWay High Performer for its sustainable fuel practices.

AAA Cooper Transportation

www.aaacooper.com

AAA Cooper Transportation upgraded its aerodynamic fairing packages and converted oil to lighter-weight synthetic to improve fuel economy. The SmartWay partner was an early adopter of next-generation engine technologies. AAA Cooper installed tire pressure systems designed for drive tire position to improve MPG and deployed next-generation skirting on van trailers for airflow direction. Its LTL system flow improvements enhanced loaded fill rates, reducing the number of miles per shipment required.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

AAA Cooper designed its data centers to reduce HVAC demands and overall utility consumption.

Alaska Air Cargo

www.alaskacargo.com

Alaska Air Cargo integrated green practices into its flight operations manual and training, and reviewed operations to ensure it uses electric ground power and air to mitigate the need for fuel-burning power when planes are at the gate. Committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, the airline will replace the fuel it uses with sustainable alternatives.

The company switched from plastic water bottles and cups to recyclable boxed water and paper cups, which eliminates 1.8 million pounds of plastic per year.

Dispatchers use Flyways software, which provides information to plan safe, efficient routes—and factor in how the routes work together—to save time, fuel, and emissions.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Alaska Air Cargo has committed to source, support, and develop the market for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), working with other airlines and industries to advance public policies needed to jumpstart the market. The company is a founding member of the Aviators Group of the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance.

Alliance Shippers Inc.

www.alliance.com

A SmartWay participant provider since 2006, Alliance Shippers builds its fleet of refrigerated equipment with the most current technology to enable the company to move refrigerated goods via rail, reducing CO2 output by approximately 67% or 1 billion pounds versus moving goods over the road.

Its refrigerated trailers and containers have two-way cellular tracking devices that draw power from a solar-powered battery source within the refrigeration units. This allows the company to continuously track the GPS location of assets as well as monitor temperature, check for fuel levels, and turn the refrigeration unit on and off at any time.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Solar panels

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Alliance Shippers Inc. works closely with original equipment manufacturers to utilize SmartWay components and practices as part of specifications for any new trailer build.

Americold

www.americold.com

In 2022, Americold invested more than $3.1 million in 32 sustainability projects and reduced energy consumption in North America by more than 8 million kWh. More than 80% of its facilities are equipped to capture real-time utility kWh usage data to evaluate opportunities to drive energy efficiency.

Americold invests in renewable energy and currently has 17 sites powered by solar cells with plans to add 11 sites to its portfolio over the next two years. The company also operates 23 buildings and 18 sites in the United States that are certified ENERGY STAR, making it a 2022 Premier Member of ENERGY STAR’s Certification Nation.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Americold surpassed its 2022 landfill diversion goals of 20% by achieving a 22% diversion rate, directing waste toward recycling and compost programs globally.

ArcBest

www.arcb.com

In 2022, ArcBest invested in its ABF Freight fleet, improving fuel efficiency and testing electric vehicles. The company continues to replace older equipment with tractors, trailers, and tires that increase efficiency and reduce GHG emissions. ABF Freight’s fuel economy improved by 0.3% from 2021 and 7.6% since 2012.

ArcBest is also testing 4 electric yard tractors, 2 straight trucks, and 3 electric forklifts to evaluate their impact and where they fit in its LTL network. In 2022, the company moved into a new LEED Gold-certified building in Chicago and began or completed renovations on more than 40 ABF Freight service centers, upgrading nearly 9,000 lighting fixtures to LED and remodeling restrooms with toilets, faucets, and fixtures that reduce water consumption and electricity.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

ArcBest received an EcoVadis Bronze medal for sustainability performance for the second year, and ABF Freight was named a 2022 EPA SmartWay High Performer for the third year.

Averitt Express

www.averitt.com

By maintaining a modern fleet that utilizes non-standard equipment, Averitt Express averaged 99.8 CO2 grams per ton-mile in 2022 compared to the industry average of 132.

Since becoming a founding member of the SmartWay program in 2004, Averitt has achieved a 38% reduction in CO2 emissions, a 96% reduction in NOx emissions, and saved more than 6.2 million gallons of diesel fuel.

The Tennessee Trucking Association recognized Averitt’s achievements with a Clean Diesel Leadership Award.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Averitt’s use of electric forklifts will eliminate an estimated 842,642 pounds of CO2 emissions in 2023.

Bettaway Supply Chain Services

www.bettaway.com

Bettaway helps large CPG companies efficiently recover, reuse, and recycle more than 2 million pallets annually.

Since 2008, Bettaway has specified lightweight trucks and trailers for its 500-truck fleet, delivering improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Over the past several years, Bettaway has been upgrading its fleet with fully automatic transmissions, further improving fuel economy. In 2023, the company made its first investments in electric vehicles, adding electric yard tractors to its operation and ordering Class 8 electric trucks.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

In 2022, Bettaway launched PalletTrader, the first online platform for automating the sourcing, buying, and selling of pallets. The platform streamlines transactions while optimizing delivery, further reducing miles traveled and fuel used.

Bolloré Logistics

www.bollore-logistics.com

In 2022, EcoVadis awarded Bolloré Logistics the Platinum medal after obtaining a score of 80 out of 100. Committed to reducing scope 3 CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030, Bolloré Logistics purchased several million liters of sustainable aviation fuel in 2023– double what it purchased in 2022–avoiding more than 37,000 tons of CO2 emissions.

Bolloré Logistics offers sustainable services and options, such as SeaAlternative and AirSAF, which use low-carbon fuels and electric trucks for urban deliveries.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

In the United States, Bolloré’s use of four compressed natural gas trucks, starting in late 2022, reduces CO2 emissions by up to 87% compared to diesel fuel.

Brown Integrated Logistics

www.brownintegratedlogistics.com

In 2022, Brown Integrated Logistics appointed a dedicated ESG initiative leader who has a C-level sponsor and champion. Additionally, Brown created an ESG document that highlights its sustainability philosophy, achievements, and future plans.
Brown Integrated Logistics educates employees on the importance of sustainability and seeking methods to reduce its carbon footprint. The company is in the process of selecting a supplier management system to track metrics and performance.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reuse/recycling program
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Brown Integrated Logistics participates in the GreenWay Miles program, which includes carbon audits, carbon-neutral shipping alternatives, and truck driver sustainability training.

C.H. Robinson

www.chrobinson.com

C.H. Robinson achieved 90% of its 2025 carbon reduction target as of 2022. The company increased renewable-energy purchases year over year by 30%. Awarded the EcoVadis Bronze medal for sustainability, C.H. Robinson helps shippers redesign and optimize supply chains for sustainability.

C.H. Robinson created Emissions IQ, a technology to measure, benchmark, and reduce emissions for shippers. It also enhanced its technology to recommend loads based on fewest deadhead miles for carriers. A Smart Freight Centre accredited partner since 2020, it joined Smart Freight Centre, World Economic Forum, and leading companies to develop a book-and-claim chain of custody system for transportation emissions reduction.

A SmartWay partner since 2005, C.H. Robinson collaborated with MIT and SmartWay to create a new standard for measuring LTL emissions.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

C.H. Robinson has increased renewable-energy purchases by 40% since it started making them in 2019.

CHEP

www.chep.com

CHEP shares, repairs, and reuses its 360+ million assets globally, eliminating waste and reducing emissions. 2025 goals include enabling the growth of two trees for every one it uses; sending zero product materials to landfills across locations; and impacting 1 million people to become circular economy change makers. By 2040, CHEP aims to be net zero. Some recent successes include maintaining 100% sustainably sourced timber and attaining carbon neutrality in its operations.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Globally, customers using CHEP’s pooled pallets saved 2.9 million tons of CO2 and 3.1 million trees in one year.

CJ Logistics America

www.cjlogisticsamerica.com

CJ Logistics America’s sustainability efforts include consolidated shipping, SmartWay certification, and a strict “no idle” policy. By consolidating multiple customers with a single destination onto a shared truck, the provider reduces trucks on the road and miles traveled. CJ Logistics regularly engages in large-scale network modeling projects for customers. The company also collaborates with customers to support their environmental objectives to reduce CO2 emissions, conserve water, and minimize waste.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

CJ Logistics America added waste tonnage to its metric dashboard, which also includes five key metrics—electricity, natural gas, propane, water and recycled tonnage.

Crowley

www.crowley.com

Crowley implemented a greenhouse gas inventory platform to track and analyze carbon emissions across the organization. It also partnered with EcoVadis to enhance the use of environmentally responsible suppliers.

Crowley has committed to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across all scopes by 2050. Efforts underway include adopting low- and zero-carbon fuels, advancing alternative power technology, investing in new energy, and developing more resilient supply chains.

In 2022, Crowley joined the UN Global Compact for sustainable and socially responsible policies.

The company also began construction on four lower-emission LNG vessels and initiated port electrification at Jacksonville Port Authority to reduce emissions through electric cargo and reefer equipment with a federal grant.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Crowley is completing construction on the first U.S. all-electric tugboat in 2023 and will pair it with a solar-capable charging station in San Diego to support marine decarbonization. U.S. offshore wind energy market.

Crown Equipment

www.crown.com

Crown Equipment designs products that use fewer parts, require less maintenance, produce less waste, and last longer. The materials handling manufacturer helps companies understand how they consume power. Its energy solutions power study combines monitoring, data analytics, and expert insight to provide fleet managers with recommendations and best practices for enhancing forklift battery performance. It can also help determine the battery technology for their fleet.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Multiple Crown facilities have achieved zero-landfill status and ISO 14001 certification. The company also redeveloped more than 5.3 million square feet of brownfield space and earned more than 20 sustainability awards from various organizations, including the Ohio EPA.

CT Logistics

www.ctlogistics.com

CT developed and refined its FreitRater Lion software to help shippers drive energy efficiency with supply chain routing analysis technologies. This software lets shippers maximize lane effectiveness and facilitate optimal transportation mode selections. FreitRater Lion consolidates small shipments into a truckload with stop-offs to reduce costs and fuel. It enables shippers to choose environmentally conscious routings, modes, and carriers with the shortest transit times to reduce fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

CT Logistics ensures at least 40% of its 6-acre corporate campus stays undeveloped and wooded. Additionally, its facilities utilize LED lamps/bulbs for electrical efficiency and thermostats that incorporate off-hour energy conservation.

DHL Supply Chain

www.dhl.com

As part of Deutsche Post DHL Group, which announced a global commitment to net zero logistics-related emissions by 2050, DHL Supply Chain has set 2030 targets for sustainable logistics operations. These targets include additional expenditures of up to $7.5 billion for sustainable technologies and fuels, 60% e-vehicles for pickup and delivery, 30% sustainable fuels in air/ocean freight and road transport, and all new buildings climate neutral.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

DHL Supply Chain North America invested in green heavy-duty vehicles and mandated new yard trucks be electric. It purchased 100% of electricity from renewable sources in 2021.

DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express

www.dhx.com

DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express purchased carbon offsets to operate carbon-neutral warehouses in Honolulu, Maui, Guam, Kona, Seattle, and Los Angeles. Its corporate headquarters and Maui and Guam facilities are solar sufficient, drawing no or minimal additional energy from electric grids. In 2021, DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express reached a milestone in sustainability with its 10th annual GreenWay Miles carbon audit, documenting a 78% reduction in same-facility emissions from their first audit in 2011.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express installed energy-efficient lighting, converted its corporate headquarters and Honolulu terminal lights to LED, and uses timers in both terminals to increase the energy effectiveness of HVAC and lighting systems.

Dimerco Express Group

www.dimerco.com

Dimerco provides mode optimization services, developing green logistics solutions to shift to CO2-reducing freight options, as well as a freight consolidation yield management program. Receiving ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 45001 (health & safety), ISO 14001 (environment), and ISO 14064-1 (GHG emission & removals) certificates, the company has adjusted work practices to lower its carbon impact.

The company also implemented a reduce, reuse, recycle green policy for 156 operating units, including deploying 23 electric trucks and forklifts.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Dimerco completed photovoltaic installations on two warehouses in Germany, totaling nearly 2 million square feet, saving approximately 11,600 tons of CO2 emissions per year.

East Coast Warehouse & Distribution

www.eastcoastwarehouse.com

A large solar-powered warehouse allows East Coast Warehouse & Distribution to produce more than 2 million kWh of renewable energy annually. Additionally, the company uses motion-sensing technology to provide energy-saving controls across all facilities.

Its recycling program saves millions of pounds of cardboard and hundreds of thousands of plastic stretch wrap each year. The company is working toward a paperless environment via 100% digital processing of inbound and outbound operations.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

East Coast Warehouse received the Bronze sustainability rating from EcoVadis in 2022.

Echo Global Logistics

www.echo.com

Echo works with shipper and carrier partners to adopt procedures that reduce waste through recycling practices, minimize impact by reducing pollutants, and increase the use of environmentally acceptable materials.

Echo is certified in the ISO standard 14001:2015, which means its environmental management system meets ISO’s thorough requirements.

Since 2010, Echo has partnered with the SmartWay program to measure, benchmark, and improve its environmental footprint. Echo shares its freight activity with the EPA, which tracks carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter emissions. Echo’s emissions scores rank above average and have continued to improve over time. Internally, Echo promotes company-wide recycling efforts.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Echo reduces its environmental footprint by identifying energy efficiencies within facilities, leveraging renewable energy, and participating in conservation projects. The 3PL creates efficient supply chains by minimizing empty miles and optimizing backhaul opportunities.

England Logistics

www.englandlogistics.com

As a SmartWay partner, England Logistics submits and reviews its sustainability performance data to EPA annually. It also provides operational strategies, data management tools, and verified technology supports.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

England Logistics helps shippers select the most efficient transportation mode to reduce their supply chain’s carbon footprint on a global scale.

Estes Express Lines

www.estes-express.com

Estes continues to expand its fleet of alternative fuel vehicles and electric forklifts and to reduce emissions by using newer equipment and route optimization technology.

Estes is retrofitting 10 vehicles with Remora, a new carbon capture technology that reduces the amount of CO2 a semi-truck releases.

In addition to carbon capture, Estes employs carbon-reducing practices such as replacing less-efficient tractors with EPA-certified models; improving engine efficiency; managing driver performance; and conducting pre-trip inspections and training.

A SmartWay Partner since 2004, Estes also supports paper reduction initiatives, intermodal usage when appropriate, LED lighting in terminals and on trucks, and speed management efforts.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Estes’ nationwide network of more than 200 terminals reuses cardboard and pallets as dunnage. Additionally, Estes has extended tire tread life and reduced waste by recapping more than 780,000 tires since 2008.

Evergreen Shipping Agency (America) Corp.

www.evergreen-shipping.us

Evergreen reduces its carbon footprint by deploying new, eco-friendly, energy-efficient container ships and adopting marine biofuels. The company has committed to the Arctic Shipping Corporate Pledge, vowing to safeguard the oceans and protect the Arctic ecosystem.

Setting a goal to be 100% carbon-neutral by 2050, Evergreen’s corporate sustainability policy is dedicated to environmental protection, social commitment, ethical compliance, risk management, and sustainable procurement.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Evergreen incorporates the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into procurement and assesses its suppliers’ environmental and social performance.

FedEx

www.fedex.com

FedEx pledged $100 million to help establish the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture, where researchers will focus on ways to remove and store excess carbon in the atmosphere.

The company also aims to achieve carbon neutral operations by 2040 by converting its fleet to electric vehicles, reducing aircraft fuel consumption, and investing in alternative fuels and energy management programs.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

A new tool, FedEx Sustainability Insights, uses near-real time FedEx network data to estimate CO2 emissions for both individual tracking numbers and FedEx.com accounts. Users can view historical emissions data by account as well as search by tracking number. Data is displayed in a variety of metrics such as transport mode, service type, and country or territory for all eligible shipments.

FLS Transportation Services

www.flstransport.com

FLS Transportation occupies a Platinum LEED-certified building—meaning it adheres to prerequisites and credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environmental quality. The company optimizes natural lighting usage where possible. For example, its offices have motion detection devices that control lighting, and LED lighting in some facilities conserve additional energy. FLS participates in One Tree Planted, a nonprofit dedicated to global reforestation.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

FLS Transportation earned a bronze level Ecovadis Sustainability Rating, and maintains its Smartway membership by measuring, benchmarking, and tracking its efforts to increase efficiency and fuel economy.

FST Logistics

fstlogistics.com

As a member of the SmartWay program, FST focuses on adopting carbon reduction initiatives including the EPA Green Power Partnership, office and warehouse recycling programs, motion sensor warehouse lighting, quick charge systems for forklifts, and eliminating styrofoam and plastics for office use.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

FST built an on-site compressed natural gas station that uses methane for fuel in place of diesel for part of its regional fleet located in Hilliard, Ohio.

GEODIS

www.geodis.com

By 2030, GEODIS aims to reduce its GHG emissions by 30% through low-carbon transport; multimodal solutions that combine air, road, maritime, inland waterways and rail; and alternative energy vehicles. GEODIS’ Green Team and Green Site Certification Programs promote sustainability and implement recycling initiatives at its facilities to prevent waste from going to landfills.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Energy-efficient lighting
• Carbon offsets
• Renewable energy certificates

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Globally, GEODIS offers its shipper customers the option of using sustainable fuel, which reduces GHG emissions by up to 90% for ocean and air freight. In 2022, GEODIS committed to use the Science Based Targets method to define a reduction trajectory toward 2030 and monitor its performance annually, integrate environmental considerations into financial planning, and commit at all levels of the company.

Holman Logistics

www.holmanusa.com

Nearly all of Holman’s facilities utilize LED lighting to reduce electricity usage, and the company has expanded its use of electric lift trucks. The company also actively participates in recycling, from boxes and paper to lunchroom plastic and aluminum to pallets.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Holman’s transportation facility in the Pacific Northwest is designated as an official EPA SmartWay Emissions program partner, while another facility received a landfill-free designation—meaning less than 1% of waste it generates ends up in a landfill.

Hub Group

www.hubgroup.com

Hub Group analyzes customer supply chains to identify opportunities to implement efficiency programs. The company’s own sustainability strategy focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions for its shipper customers and investing in equipment and technology to offset its own emissions. It annually invests in newer, more energy-efficient tractors with the latest safety technology—reducing its average fleet age.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting
• Rainwater harvesting
• Mode conversions
• Reporting and visibility

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

In 2022, Hub Group helped its shipper customers avoid nearly 3.1 billion pounds of CO2 emissions and 136mm gallons of fuel by converting truckload shipments to intermodal.Hub also opened its second LEED Gold Certified building at its corporate headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Hyster Company

www.hyster.com

Hyster is innovating clean power solutions for materials handling equipment to help operations in intensive industries mitigate environmental impact and meet emission standards. Hyster has planned pilots for an hydrogen fuel cell (HFC)-powered ReachStacker at the Port of Valencia and an HFC-powered empty container handler in Germany. Additionally, the company is working with Capacity Trucks to develop electric and hydrogen-powered terminal tractors.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Hyster’s developments in hydrogen fuel cell-powered port equipment led to the first-ever real-world pilot of an HFC-powered top pick container handler at the Port of Los Angeles. The single truck is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 127 tons and reduce carbon monoxide, ground-level ozone, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide by half a ton over the course of one year.

iGPS Logistics

www.igps.com

iGPS Logistics’ pooled plastic pallets are 100% recyclable, so they don’t end up in landfills or pollute waterways. Because iGPS pallets are 35% lighter than wood-block alternatives, their transportation uses considerably less fuel and produces fewer emissions. In comparison to multi-use and single-use wood pallets, the iGPS pallet has a lower impact on global warming, algae growth in waterways due to runoff, fossil fuel consumption, and ozone layer depletion, according to an independent analysis.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

For every 100,000 iGPS pallets shipped, nearly 5,000 gallons of fuel are saved, and there is a reduction of more than 130,000 pounds of greenhouse emissions.

Inmar Intelligence

www.inmar.com

Inmar Intelligence aims to make returns and reverse logistics sustainable through solutions and services that maximize value recovery, reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and keep products out of landfills. Inmar boasts a 99% landfill diversion rate per 600 million units processed, and generates 7.7 million KWh of renewable energy—which could power 720 homes for one year. In addition, the company has reduced CO2 emissions by 4,962 metric tons and recycled 28 million pounds of cardboard.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Keeping returns in commerce and out of landfills

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

The company launched the Inmar Returns Network, a national network of return drop-off locations. The program aggregates returns at the store level and transports them using excess capacity on existing shipping lanes. This reduces fossil fuel consumption and GHG emissions while eliminating one-off trips.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services

www.jbhunt.com

In 2022, J.B. Hunt announced its intentions to reduce its carbon emission intensity 32% by 2034 (baseline 2019), advancing the company’s sustainability vision of moving the freight industry toward a low-carbon future.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse / recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

In 2022, J.B. Hunt’s intermodal segment helped to avoid an estimated 3.6 million metric tons CO2 emissions when compared with transportation by truck alone, the equivalent of removing 794,094 passenger vehicles off the roads for one year.

Kamps

www.kampspallets.com

In 2022, Kamps released its inaugural Environmental Sustainability Report with a carbon footprint and handprint. To maximize and sustain its efforts long-term, Kamps established a Corporate Social Responsibility committee, which meets quarterly and consists of leadership, including executive leadership, from all major departments.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

In 2022, Kamps recycled more than 397.5 million pallets, saving 20.2 million trees, diverting 7.1 million in landfill waste, and saving 10.8 million metric tons of CO2. The company repaired these pallets, tore them down into reusable components, or recycled them into sustainable mulch, wooden pellets, and biofuel.

Kenan Advantage Group

www.thekag.com

KAG operates a variety of alternatively fueled vehicles, including several electric tractors currently being piloted in select applications.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

As a result of its carbon emissions reduction efforts, KAG Canada was the first recipient of Shell’s 2022 Sustainability Award.

Kenco Group

www.kencogroup.com

Kenco Group reduces GHG emissions across its business units by using data analytics to optimize operations. The 3PL operates LEED-certified facilities, uses hybrid vehicles in the company fleet, and implements Lean Six Sigma methodology to minimize waste and cost.

Kenco also utilizes LED lighting, sensor switches, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, electric material handling equipment, energy-efficient kitchen equipment/office appliances, and recycling waste strategies to reduce its warehousing carbon footprint by 10%-25% on average.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Through network optimization, transportation optimization, inventory planning, packaging redesign and other green solutions, Kenco typically reduces the carbon footprint of its solutions by 7%-15%. For its customers, Kenco has a carbon footprint calculator that assesses and tracks carbon emissions at the site level.

Landstar System

www.landstar.com

Landstar promotes the use of the LandstarOne app, with Load Alerts and Landstar Maximizer technologies, to help reduce empty miles and time spent idling. Landstar also encourages the owner-operators in the Landstar network to adopt new technologies provided by original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket product manufacturers to increase fuel efficiency.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Landstar uses remote tracking devices on trailers to help gain efficiencies in its operations. In recent years, Landstar has replaced thousands of single use battery-powered trailer tracking units with rechargeable battery-powered and/or solar-powered units. By the end of 2022, more than 97% of its van trailers were equipped with rechargeable or solar-powered tracking devices, and 99.9% of Landstar’s van trailers were equipped with aerodynamic devices.

Logistics Plus

www.logisticsplus.com

Logistics Plus has been a certified SmartWay Transport partner for 12 years running. Based on the last SmartWay Carrier Performance Rankings (2021 data), the company tied for first out of 4,000 members for least amount of carbon emissions/mile. The company also purchased 1,200 recycled pallets made from 13,200 pounds of plastic waste and bought or leased more than 100 electric forklifts for its warehouses.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels or energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Plastic neutrality/positive

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Logistics Plus received the official Ocean Integrity Plastic Neutrality Certification for 2022—a third straight year. In 2022, the company reduced its plastics footprint by supporting the collection of 36 tons of marine plastic and waste and is credited with removing more than 3.5 million kilos of ocean plastic waste, which is the equivalent of
175 million plastic water bottles.

Lynden

www.lynden.com

Lynden was the first Alaska-based transportation company to be recognized by SmartWay (2008) and the first trucking company to earn the Green Star Award for Alaskan businesses. Despite operating in some of the most steep terrain and extreme conditions, its fleets consistently score among the most efficient in the nation in terms of CO2 per ton mile as measured by SmartWay. Its bulk tanker company consistently scores in the top 1% of tanker carriers in the nation for low carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide and particulate matter emissions per ton mile. Lynden redesigned its facilities for energy efficiency, including replacing more than 100 propane forklifts with electric models.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels or energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Lynden recently added more than 800 refrigerated containers to its fleet that feature temperature-controlled software that can vary the fan speed and control the compressors to match the conditions and current cooling demand. That translates into a power draw one-fifth that of older containers. Less power required to run the reefers means fewer generators running, less fuel consumption, and lower carbon emissions.

Marten Transport

www.marten.com

Marten improved its fleet’s miles per gallon through several internal equipment changes, temperature initiatives, and network restructure. The company created a loading warm and a reefer run time initiative using temperature technology to identify issues and educate shippers. Marten added solar panels to terminals and changed to LED lighting to reduce electricity consumption. An investment in lithium battery banks allows the company to store energy and reduce overall demand.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels or energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Marten reduced engine idle hours by purchasing auxiliary power units, adding a management system, and adding solar panels. The company now burns 90% less gas during a driver’s 10-hour break.

Matson Navigation Company

www.matson.com

Matson’s environmental strategy is focused on addressing the impacts from vessel and shoreside operations through reducing greenhouse gas emissions and investment in decarbonization. Matson has set corporate goals to achieve a 40% reduction in Scope 1 GHG fleet emissions by 2030 and net-zero Scope 1 GHG emissions by 2050. To meet these goals, the company has invested more than $2 billion in fleet and terminal improvements.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reduce energy usage

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Matson signed contracts with Philly Shipyard to build three 3,600 TEU Aloha Class container ships. The vessels will feature dual fuel engines that are designed to operate on either conventional marine fuels or liquefied natural gas, as well as other green ship technologies, such as a fuel-efficient hull design, environmentally safe double hull fuel tanks, and freshwater ballast systems.

NFI Industries

www.nfiindustries.com

NFI is a SmartWay partner and High Performer. The company is making significant financial investments in order to grow its clean vehicle fleet and create scalable zero-emission transportation solutions, while also partnering with industry leaders to create zero-emission goods movement in the United States.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

By the end of 2023, NFI will operate 100 battery-electric tractors, helping to establish the first zero-emission goods movement corridor in the United States. NFI will also develop a network of commercial fleet chargers, including 38 high-capacity DC fast chargers. It will also install 5MWh of energy storage and solar energy capable of generating 2.4 million kWh of zero-emission energy annually.

Northwest Seaport Alliance

www.nwseaportalliance.com

The Northwest Seaport Alliance pledged a zero-emission goal by 2050 or earlier. Its clean air programs have reduced diesel particulate matter emissions by more than 90% since 2005, and the port is developing a zero-emission drayage truck demonstration program with “Decarbonizing Drayage Roadmap” for its gateway.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Energy-efficient lighting
• Innovative stormwater management
• Habitat restoration
• Remediation–cleaning up legacy contamination and returning properties to productive use

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

NWSA recently completed its first deployment of all-electric yard trucks alongside its railyard operator and local utility. The port also launched shore power at one international container terminal with infrastructure programs underway at two more terminals.

Nussbaum Transportation

nussbaum.com

Nussbaum boasts a fleet miles per gallon of 9.1, compared with industry average 6.3 MPG and best-in-class 7.9 MPG. The company emits 213.1 pounds of CO2 per 100 miles, below the industry average of 309.9 and best-in-class 245.8, according to Geotab benchmarking data from April 2022 to April 2023. To help achieve these benchmarks, Nussbaum’s fleet features technologies including automatic tire inflation systems, solar panels for recharging truck batteries, and 6×4 axle trucks that reduce rpms.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting
• Recycling program for light materials, industrial waste, and fluids

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

SmartWay ranks North American transportation companies on six emissions factors using a 1-5 scale (1=best, 5=worst). Out of 1,207 truckload carriers, Nussbaum is 1 of 16 to earn a “1” in all 6 categories.

ODW Logistics

www.odwlogistics.com

ODW Logistics equips its distribution centers with motion sensing lighting and recycling programs. For one global beauty brand, ODW implemented an automated carton sizer that right-sizes the final parcel package to the contents in the box, resulting in reduced shipping costs and zero dunnage. In another operation, an automated box branding solution mechanically applies labeling and prints on-demand box branding based on the client’s needs, resulting in a streamlined process and reduced corrugated packaging.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

ODW Logistics’ retail consolidation program combines multiple customer shipments into full truckloads to reduce emissions. In 2022, one customer converted 25% of LTL orders into more efficient full truckload shipments and consolidated 34.6% of its freight with other shippers.

Odyssey Logistics & Technology

www.odysseylogistics.com

In 2021, Odyssey Logistics introduced the Cloverleaf Sustainability Program to help shippers and carriers build stronger, more sustainable supply chains. The company utilizes actionable data to uncover new ways to reduce costs and improve margins while measurably reducing the environmental impact of customers’ global supply chains.

Odyssey Logistics provides recommendations for day-to-day operations and long-range planning and offers strategic consulting and education to help shippers and carriers develop effective sustainability policies and practices.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

In its inaugural year, the Cloverleaf Sustainability Program reported a reduction of 489,831 tons tracking managed services activities. In 2022, the program expanded internally to track across Odyssey’s full suite of services and reduced CO2 by more than 300 million tons.

Old Dominion Freight Line

www.odfl.com

Old Dominion’s commitment to safe and sustainable business practices is ongoing, and the company aims for continuous improvement. Old Dominion has been recognized by the EPA as a SmartWay Excellence award winner for 7 consecutive years.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

In 2022, Old Dominion received delivery of its first battery-electric terminal tractor, the E-ACTT. The E-ACTT is equipped with a 210-kWh modular battery pack that can last up to 22 hours on a single, full charge. The E-ACTT uses the industry standard CCS-1 compliant DC fast charging with charging up to 150 kW. To help sustain long-lasting battery life, Autocar utilizes liquid cooled/heated batteries.

ORBIS Corporation

www.orbiscorporation.com

ORBIS has long provided reusuable packaging solutions that drive a circular economy through strategic supply chain partnerships for leading companies. To replace single-use packaging in the supply chain, 100% of ORBIS’ packaging solutions are designed, developed, and engineered with sustainability in mind. Its Life-Cycle Assessment compares the impacts of using reusable and single-use packaging. At the end service, ORBIS packaging can be recovered and reprocessed as feedstock for new packaging.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

In 2021, ORBIS’ buyback program avoided 85 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. Additionally, ORBIS’ Ocean in Mind program repurposes plastic waste that is at risk of entering the oceans. This program annually diverts around one million pounds of single-use plastic waste from oceans and waterways.

PECO Pallet

pecopallet.com

PECO produces pallets with sustainably forested lumber and equips its facilities with energy-saving features such as motion-sensitive lighting and energy-efficient heat pumps. It repairs and refurbishes wood pallets to maximize their useful life. When pallets no longer are serviceable, PECO removes and recycles all metal, and employs grinding systems that turn the pallets into mulch, which is then sold and repurposed for new uses. PECO minimizes pallet delivery GNG emissions with advanced TMS tools.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting
• Wood grinding and processing systems to convert used pallets into mulch vs. going into a landfill

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

No waste or wood from PECO facilities goes into a landfill.

Penske Transportation Solutions

www.gopenske.com

Penske participates in and supports the SmartWay Transport partnership. Penske also participates in the EPA’s Green Power Partnership, where the 3PL has continuously increased its usage of renewable power since joining and reached 40% renewable for U.S. operations in 2022. Penske is also expanding its use of renewable diesel fuel for its fleet.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainably source materials
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

In 2022, Penske was recognized as a High Performer in SmartWay’s Truck Carrier Carbon Metrics and Logistics Freight Management categories, where it ranked in the top 10% among all carrier partners, and the top 5% of all logistics partners, respectively.

PITT OHIO

www.pittohio.com

In the past year, PITT OHIO has incorporated three electric vehicles into its fleet with two more on the way. The carrier collaborates with customers to help them understand their Scope 3 emissions. Projects over the past five years—from renewable energy to preventive maintenance and driver training—have lowered overall emissions and carbon per shipment by 6%. PITT OHIO estimates that its 7.6% miles per gallon improvement saved 2 million gallons of diesel over five years.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainably source materials
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting
• Patented renewable energy DC power microgrid

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

PITT OHIO was recognized by the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh for Business Leadership and received the Ohio EPA’s Encouraging Environmental Excellence Award.

Port of Los Angeles

www.portoflosangeles.org

The Port of Los Angeles partners with other California ports on data-sharing to support emissions reduction and goods movement efficiency. In addition to testing and deploying zero-emission vehicles, trucks, cargo-handling equipment, and locomotives, the port facilitates several sustainability projects and initiatives, including a zero-waste program and ongoing terminal equipment projects enhanced by federal grants and public-private partnerships.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

In 2023, the Port of Los Angeles established agreements on sustainability and industry decarbonization, including development of Green Shipping Corridors, with the Port of Gothenburg, Singapore Maritime Authority, Port of Tokyo, and Port of Yokohama.

Raymond Corporation

www.raymondcorp.com

Raymond’s Energy Essentials lithium-ion batteries provide customers with significant productivity enhancements, including increased uptime and reduced electricity consumption. In addition, Raymond’s associates participate in shutting down equipment during rest breaks and weekends to eliminate power draw.

Raymond has also incorporated LED lighting systems, installed low-flow water-saving faucet inserts that reduce bathroom water usage by 25%, and adopted a reuse/recycle program.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Raymond has upgraded software for automated logic and lighting control programs to zone and control factory and office lighting, heating, and air conditioning.

Redwood Logistics

www.redwoodlogistics.com

Redwood has been a SmartWay member since 2011. In 2022, the 3PL reduced its fleet’s carbon output by 1.7 million pounds through a modernization initiative following SmartWay guidelines.

Redwood also decreased more than 75 million pounds of carbon output through LTL consolidation each quarter with the help of third-party solutions.

In March 2023, Redwood launched a sustainability solution, Redwood Hyperion, which provides shippers with freight emissions visibility, a verified carbon credit marketplace, and comprehensive progress reporting.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Energy-efficient lighting
• IT/hardware recycling program

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Redwood received a Bronze Medal from EcoVadis, in the transportation and support category, for its dedication to sustainable practices and the carbon visibility product Redwood Hyperion. It ranked in the 62nd percentile among all surveyed companies for environmental policies related to GHG emissions, energy consumption, labor and human rights, ethics, and supplier contracts.

Rinchem Company

www.rinchem.com

Rinchem signed a commitment letter with SBTi’s Corporate Net-Zero Standard, with a target goal of May 2024. The company also partnered with Keramida to complete its inaugural Sustainability Report and completed its first Greenhouse Gas Emissions survey.

Rinchem installed LED and motion sensor lights in 19 facilities domestically and solar panels in its Marlborough, Massachusetts, warehouse. Its forklift fleet is 85% electric. The company is a Smartway partner and CARB compliant.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Rinchem established an ESG Committee that generated its first committee charter. The team meets regularly to review ESG-related topics.

Roehl Transport

www.roehltransport.com

Roehl Transport’s green initiatives include equipment such as trailer skirts and tails, and low-rolling resistance tires. The trucker installed automatic tire inflation systems and door switches on its refrigerated trailers to reduce idle. Roehl trucks also are equipped with wheel covers, an aerodynamic package, battery management systems, and direct fire heaters. Drivers receive training on decreasing fuel consumption and are incentivized to improve their MPG performance.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Roehl was a founding SmartWay partner in 2004. In 2021, the trucking company earned its 10th SmartWay Excellence Award and in 2022 earned a SmartWay High Performer distinction.

Romark Logistics

www.romarklogistics.com

Romark participates in the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition initiative. Sustainability actions include transitioning material handling equipment from traditional lead-acid batteries to lithium-ion batteries; introducing electric tractors and phasing out older diesel motor trucks; operating all buildings with LED lighting; and installing building automation systems to improve facility management and enhance efficiency.

The majority of Romark facilities have achieved landfill-free status, with a recycling rate of 100%.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Romark Logistics established a comprehensive and ambitious ESG program that aims to achieve 100% carbon emission reduction and eliminate landfill waste.

Ruan Transportation

www.ruan.com

Ruan’s sustainability efforts fall into 4 sections. Technology and Green Equipment Specs include reducing fuel consumption, emissions, and idle time; and implementing aerodynamic equipment and auto-inflating tires. Network Design and Management includes route optimization to minimize miles and optimizing equipment utilization with payload management and backhauls. Proactive Consultation includes providing CO2 emissions improvement projections and reporting ongoing emissions reduction results. Alternative Energy Solutions include electric yard trucks, regional tractors, and material handling, and the use of biodiesel, renewable diesel, and ultra-low NOx renewable natural gas.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Ruan developed a dashboard that displays live statistics on its fleet’s CO2 emissions.

Ryder System

www.ryder.com

Ryder launched a turnkey solution, RyderElectric+, to provide customers with a roadmap to transition to electric vehicles. The company plans to introduce 4,000 BrightDrop electric vans to its lease and rental fleet through 2025.

At its facilities, Ryder employs lean methodologies to continually improve operating processes, maximize efficiency, and minimize waste. For automotive waste, Ryder contracts vendors who recycle or refine and reuse waste, including nearly 3 million gallons of used oil from maintenance and fueling locations.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Ryder has received significant awards and recognition from customers, industry associations, and regulatory communities, such as the SmartWay High Achiever Award (2020), the SmartWay Excellence Award (2013-2014, 2017, 2021), and the SmartWay Affiliate Challenge Award.

Saia LTL Freight

www.saia.com

In 2022, Saia LTL Freight initiated formal reporting of critical ESG/corporate responsibility factors. As a SmartWay partner, Saia continues to explore alternative fuel tractors and has improved fleet miles per gallon through significant investments in new, more energy-efficient tractors, reduced engine idling, automatic engine shutoff system, fuel-efficient tires, and trailer skirts. Additionally, Saia has implemented myriad green initiatives at its facilities.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainably source materials
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Saia is equipping its new, state-of-the-art Buford, Georgia, terminal with new solar panels. Once completely installed, the panels will offset 100% of the facility’s energy usage.

Scan Global Logistics

www.scangl.com

Scan Global Logistics (SGL) joined the SmartWay program in 2007. Since 2015, SGL has been a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact and supports its sustainable development goals. In 2020, SGL joined the Science Based Targets initiative and committed to an ambition aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Every year, the company reports on its sustainability performance and progress in line with international standards and disclosure frameworks for sustainability reporting.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

In 2021, Scan Global Logistics joined the Exponential Roadmap initiative and the subgroup 1.5˚C Supply Chain Leaders, reinforcing a commitment to halving emissions every decade and reaching net-zero in 2050.

Schneider

www.schneider.com

Schneider’s current sustainability initiatives include adding 94 battery electric vehicles to its fleet in 2023, using data analytics to optimize shipping routes, testing other zero-emission vehicles, continuously making updates to its existing diesel fleet, and cutting emissions at facilities.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Schneider has set ambitious sustainability goals. By 2025, it aims to reduce carbon emissions by 7.5% per mile; by 2035 it will achieve a 60% reduction in carbon emissions per mile. By 2030, it plans to double its intermodal size, which will reduce carbon emissions by an additional 700 million pounds each year.

Southeastern Freight Lines

www.sefl.com

SEFL installed solar panels at three service locations and its Support Center in Lexington, South Carolina. The trucking company harvests rainwater at its South Houston service center by capturing water in a 10,000-gallon cistern and using it for irrigation. In fall 2021, SEFL’s Fort Lauderdale facility began utilizing rainwater from the storm water pond for full-site irrigation.

The company’s Support Center, Western Billing Center, and 84 service centers utilize LED lighting and occupancy/daylight harvesting sensors, and five additional service centers will be LED in 2023.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

A SmartWay partner since 2004, Southeastern Freight Lines has produced more than 16,400 MWh of solar energy since 2013.

Sunset Transportation

www.sunsettrans.com

Sunset Transportation has been a SmartWay partner since its inception in 2004. The company provides customers with monthly emissions reporting per location, by carrier, load count, and carbon reduction opportunities.

Internally, Sunset provides multiple health and wellness initiatives for employees, installed energy-efficient lighting and windows in all locations, and employs paperless freight payment, carrier, and customer accounting practices.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Sunset has invested in Highway, a tool that uses API to actively monitor carrier certification and renewal dates for SmartWay, ARBER, and CARB. Through this tool, Sunset receives automatic auditing and verification, and defines strict standards for customers with unique and specific sustainability requirements.

Symbia Logistics

www.symbia.com

In 2022, Symbia planted 7,500 trees, reaching its previous goal of 50 trees per client. The company outfitted its warehouse in Commerce City, Colorado, with LED and motion sensor lighting. Symbia’s 66,000 square foot space in Kansas City received a Warehouse and Repacking Organic Certification.

The company rolled out new recycling programs in Sparks, Nevada, and Bolingbrook, Illinois, and plans to add the Denver and Kansas City markets to this program, increasing its network recycling capabilities by more than 50%.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Energy-efficient lighting
• Educational outreach

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Symbia Logistics added eight new electric forklifts to its fleet, nearly eliminating all propane lifts from its network.

The Shippers Group

www.theshippersgroup.com

Sustainability efforts over the past year include recycling, reusing, and repurposing 14 million lbs. of cardboard and plastic; and investing in more low-emission technology, furthering efforts toward a fully electric fleet, and converting batteries to lithium.

The company has minimized food waste through established programs with its customers to donate expiring products to local food banks. As part of its water and energy conservation efforts, The Shippers Group installed LED and motion-sensor lighting.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

The Shippers Group has developed a proactive approach to reduce environmental, energy, and social impacts by managing resources alongside its customers and participating in collaborative projects that often lead to opportunities that increase the potential for meaningful sustainable outcomes.

Toyota Material Handling

www.toyotaforklift.com

In 2021, Toyota was recognized with the Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for its CO2 reduction projects. Toyota implemented energy reduction projects such as LED lighting, air leak detection and repair, energy monitoring, weld fume collection systems, and equipment upgrades and replacement. The company reduced its indirect CO2 emissions from purchased energy by 34% from 2019.

Toyota invests in a 30% renewable energy ratio through renewable energy certificates. It also executes a supplier selection process that considers environmental performance as one key indicator when choosing potential suppliers and vendors.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting
• ISO 14001 Environmental Management System

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Since 2004, Toyota has achieved zero-landfill status. In fiscal 2023, Toyota diverted 500+ tons of waste from a landfill and sent 7,500+ tons of material to be recycled/reused.

Trinity Logistics

www.trinitylogistics.com

Since 2008, Trinity Logistics has participated in the SmartWay program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution caused by freight transportation. Trinity has also been partners with the American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care since 2009, which involves staying committed to improving company performance through community awareness, security, distribution, and pollution prevention.

The 3PL offers carbon offset programs through Carbonfund.org, and works with a third-party vendor to help its shippers and carriers offset their carbon footprint on shipments. Trinity also employs LED lighting and timers.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

With the help of Carbonfund.org, Trinity was able to calculate electricity usage in its corporate Delaware location and donate funds to the Carbonfund.org Foundation to offset its own emissions by planting trees and sending funds to the Texas Capricorn Ridge Wind Project.

Tucker Company Worldwide

www.tuckerco.com

Tucker Company Worldwide, a Smartway partner, provides a complete range of North American transportation energy-efficient solutions.

The company has more than 60 years of experience in the renewable energy industry and supports operations for many of the nation’s best-known names in clean energy and other related industries.

Shippers can use Tucker’s clean energy supply chain solutions to transport short- and long-haul wind, solar, and hydropower equipment and machinery.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Sustainable shipping strategies

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Tucker has been a SmartWay partner for the past 15 consecutive years, partnering with the EPA to measure, benchmark, and improve sustainable logistics operations.

Union Pacific

www.up.com

Union Pacific set a target to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 and locomotive well-to-wheel GHG emissions by 26% by 2030 from a 2018 baseline. UP committed to revalidate this short-term target in line with the 1.5°C global warming scenario and develop a goal to reach net-zero value chain GHG emissions by 2050.

Other UP initiatives include investments in battery-electric locomotives, increasing use of renewable fuels to 10% of total diesel consumption by 2025, and partnering with The Nature Conservancy to explore nature-based solutions.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Use wastewater
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainably source materials
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting
• Engage supply chain for collaborative decarbonization

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

In 2022, UP refurbished more than 132,800 equipment parts, avoiding use of 22,500 tons of new steel.

UPS

ups.com

UPS plans to achieve 100% carbon neutrality by 2050. By 2025, UPS aims to power its facilities with 25% renewable energy and use 40% alternative fuel in its ground operations.

In 2022, the company opened its largest CNG station in Middletown, Pennsylvania; purchased 162 million gallons of alternative fuel; and purchased 10 electric vertical take-off and landing aircrafts contracted for 2024. In 2023, UPS completed its first solar panel project in China.

To date, UPS has invested in 30+ urban logistics projects like eQuads and ebikes and switched to LED lighting and more efficient conveyor motors in its facilities.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Sustainably source materials
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

In 2022, UPS achieved a 6.9% decrease in Scope 1, 2 and 3 C02e emissions globally.

Werner Enterprises

www.werner.com

Werner set a goal to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2035. To achieve this, the company invests in and tests alternative fuels, new strategies, and innovative technologies that focus on driving carbon emissions reductions and providing low-carbon options for its shipper customers.

In 2022, Werner disclosed its Scope 1 absolute emission for the first time and made investments to disclose Scope 2 emissions in the next few years.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainable packaging
• Solar panels
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Werner partnered with Salesforce and Workiva to build a waste and energy scorecard and develop a comprehensive dashboard to measure progress and better understand opportunities for further carbon emission reductions.

WSI (Warehouse Specialists, LLC)

www.wsinc.com

WSI, a Smartway partner, sponsors numerous green initiatives in the areas of facility design and transportation efficiencies. It participates in Ecovadis, an international business sustainability rating organization, to measure its efforts in the areas of environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

WSI’s most recent upgrades include a new waste reduction program and recycling enhancement effort. WSI also applies lean principles to continually seek new ways to conserve resources, limit emissions, and reduce waste.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Sustainably source materials
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

WSI has made several purchasing and procurement policy upgrades to align the company and its vendors with its sustainability commitment.

Yale Lift Truck Technologies

www.yale.com

Yale continues to expand lift truck motive power options throughout warehousing, the latest being integrated lithium-ion-powered three-wheel and four-wheel models.

Going beyond a single source, the Yale Power Suite enables operations to get the best solution available based on their unique cost, labor, maintenance, emissions, and space requirements.

GREEN INITIATIVES

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Use alternative fuels/energy sources
• Reuse/recycling program
• Reduce energy usage
• Energy-efficient lighting

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

The Yale Power Suite offers a variety of power options across a comprehensive range of lift trucks, incorporating hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, internal combustion engines, and lead-acid batteries.

SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN PARTNER RFP

The concept also impacted supply chains, many of which were created to be linear: Resources are extracted and used to create materials that go into products, which are distributed and, for the most part, eventually disposed of.

This thinking has been steadily shifting. “We’re aiming for planned longevity. It’s the opposite of planned obsolescence,” says John Gagel, chief sustainability officer with Lexmark. Instead of considering disposal the only option for products at the end of their lives, the products become a source of materials.

To promote sustainability, Lexmark offers a cartridge collection program that provides a free and easy way for customers to return its cartridges for reuse and recycling.

Lexmark has been applying circular principles for close to 30 years. To do this, the company has based its product development on three pillars: sustainable design, the efficient use of materials, and responsible reuse or recycling. “You have to intentionally design for reuse and durability,” Gagel says.

For instance, Lexmark specifies the plastic to be used in its laser cartridges and established a return process for them. When they’re returned, as about 40% are, Lexmark can efficiently determine if it will be able to remanufacture the entire cartridge and still meet engineering specifications. Some materials, like resin, can be reused almost infinitely.

In some cases, the cartridges fail to meet design requirements. When that occurs, components within the cartridge typically become a source of raw materials, including plastics, metals, and components.

When Lexmark first began to apply circular concepts, Gagel worked with the engineering team to experiment with different ratios of new and reused resin. They started with a ratio of 95% new and 5% reused. When that proved viable, they moved to 90% new and 10% recycled, and so on. “You have to be willing to try something new,” he says.

Lexmark currently averages about 39% post-consumer recycled plastic in its printers, with a goal of hitting 50% by 2025. Not only has this saved the company money, but remanufacturing also boosts the company’s supply chain resilience.

Like Lexmark, a growing number of organizations are incorporating circular supply chain approaches within their operations. On average, supply chain organizations have been applying circular economy principles for three years to approximately 16% of their product portfolio, finds a recent Gartner survey (see sidebar).

Nearly three-quarters of supply chain leaders expect to boost profits between 2022 and 2025 by applying circular economy principles.

As the survey indicates, a circular supply chain approach can help companies enhance both their environmental impact and their bottom line.

“The linear economy that extracts virgin material creates an enormous amount of waste,” says Hernan Saenz, head of global performance improvement practice with Bain.

In contrast, a circular supply chain can reduce waste and help manufacturers diversify their sources of supply, as used products become a source of materials.

Shifting to a circular operation also may help a company gain market share or offer additional services. For example, along with selling products, a company may offer repair services.

Xerox and Close the Loop’s Recycling and Returns Program aims to achieve zero waste to landfill by collecting and recycling used imaging supplies.

Durability, Style, and Modularity

Subscribers to Fernish gain access to furniture and décor—from bar stools to nightstands to sofas—for the amount of time they need it. The company is in its fourth year of operation.

While it’s still early, indications are that when the company is able to purchase durable, stylish items that can remain in circulation for between about four to seven years, it’s similar to selling the items several times over, says Kristin Toth, president and chief operating officer of Fernish.

As a result, an essential element for sustained performance is identifying products that can hold up through several customers.

“We think about durability, style, and modularity,” Toth says. If a cushion is damaged, can Fernish get another one, while still using the rest of the couch? How “refurbish-able” is the material?

“It’s a great business model, but it’s not for the faint of heart,” she adds.

Also critical is thinking “from a nerdy, operational” perspective, Toth says. The Fernish team developed its own inventory management system after not finding one on the market that would provide even one-third of the capabilities the company needs.

The system tracks all products at the part level. In addition, Fernish knows, for instance, not only that it has one dozen sofas, but that three were in circulation for 36 months, two for 24 months, and seven are still new in the box. Management can use this information to estimate the expected life of each product.

Getting Circular

Implementing a circular approach can offer substantial benefits, but getting there is rarely easy. If a business isn’t founded on the principle of making products to be reused, it’s generally necessary to rethink everything, says Brian Ehrig, partner in the consumer practice with Kearney.

That’s particularly true in sectors that tend to rely on outside parties or vendors to innovate, as the companies themselves will need to engage in more innovation.

Design and material choices also influence the success of circular initiatives. In fashion, for instance, polyester and cotton account for about 80% of the fibers used. Once either are changed by, say, adding color or graphics, they become harder to recycle, Ehrig says.

Through a “circular scan,” supply chain leaders can review their business model for opportunities by identifying products that can be re-used or repaired at their traditional end of life, Saenz says.

This exercise can also include identifying businesses adjacent to the company’s core operations, such as offering repair or recycling services, or providing some products for rental.

Dynamic Disposition

From the start, it’s critical to consider how materials can be reused and repurposed. Since 1959, when it introduced the Xerox 914, the first commercially successful plain paper copier, Xerox has leveraged electronics remanufacturing.

When a device comes back from a customer, Xerox engages in a “dynamic disposition process,” says Al Gallina, vice president, global manufacturing and Americas supply chain operations. The most extensive process is remanufacturing the device, as it involves disassembling it to its elemental parts and building it back up.

In some cases, Xerox will remanufacture and then test the major components and sub-assemblies, which it will use to support repair needs. The parts or assemblies are remanufactured to a “same as new” quality level, with no expectation of lower performance.

“There’s no conceding quality,” Gallina says.

Another option is to recycle base materials like plastics, metal and glass.

In 2021, more than 6,400 metric tons of equipment and parts-related waste were diverted from landfills and recycled at Xerox’s U.S. Reverse Logistics Center. Also in 2021, more than 1.9 million of the company’s toner cartridges were manufactured using recovered cartridges. More than 99% of products that come back are diverted from landfills.

To eliminate single-use packaging in Walmart’s InHome Grocery Delivery Program, Returnity custom-designed a durable reusable bag and a collection and cleaning system that increased performance through tech integration and an enhanced customer experience.

Packaging: Searching for Dumb, Cheap, and Easy

One logical place for many companies to introduce circularity is in packaging. In 2018, more than 30,400 tons of packaging and containers ended up in landfills, the EPA says (see chart above).

Reusable packaging can reduce this number, although challenges exist. One is finding an effective substitute for cardboard, a commonly used packaging material.

Cardboard is “dumb, cheap, and easy,” says Mike Newman, chief executive officer with Returnity, which designs, manufactures and implements reusable packaging and circular logistics systems. To attract users, a replacement needs to be similarly dumb, cheap, and easy, Newman adds.

Even then, getting consumers to return packaging in enough quantity that using recycled materials pays off has been a struggle. Because reusable packaging is designed for durability, its production is more material- and energy-intense, Newman says. If reusable packaging isn’t returned, the additional material and energy used in making it becomes pointless.

Returnable Packaging Plays a Role

Returnable packaging can be a solution for some consumer companies, however. For instance, it’s often a fit for companies that rent outdoor equipment, since their customers will return the products anyway. And, some traditional retailers are starting to use it.

When it comes to internal logistics, like shipments moving between distribution centers and stores, returnable packaging often can play a big role. Employees can be trained and then held accountable for how they handle packaging.

Returnity’s reusable packages are used in about one million shipments and deliveries each month, with a return rate of about 95.5%. Each is individually barcoded, and can integrate with an organization’s warehouse management system.

Between 2020 and 2021, Applied Industrial Technology shifted from pallets and cardboard to reusable containers from RPP Containers for its “milk runs”—moving products from its distribution center to service centers and back.

“It’s safer, cleaner, better for the environment and more cost effective,” says Tracie Longpre, vice president of supply chain. Not only are the containers reusable, but they’re more durable than cardboard boxes, so products are better protected.

The containers are stackable, allowing Applied to improve truck capacity utilization. Truck placement is easy and efficient. Additionally, the containers fold flat for return from their delivery locations, enabling more efficient backhaul. Shipping areas are kept clean without the clutter of cardboard, shrink wrap, and void fill.

When receiving products from vendors, Applied also reuses any package filler and dunnage for its outbound shipments. “Rarely do we need to purchase any,” Longpre says.

Eliminating waste from the start of a manufacturing operation has a tremendous impact on its environmental impact. This is where HILOS focuses.

Its design, development, and infinite restock platform enables brands to launch 3D-printed footwear lines. HILOS’ goal is to “build a creative economy without waste,” says Elias Stahl, co-founder and CEO.

Currently, many footwear and apparel companies overproduce by 20%. The reason? It can take 12 to 18 months to bring an item to market. Brands often over-produce rather than risk missing sales.

What’s more, much of the material used to make apparel and shoes ends up on the cutting room floor, as they are in pieces too small to be used in production. And because most shoes consist of numerous parts cemented together, only about 5% are recycled at the end of their life, says HILOS.

By simplifying construction, utilizing new materials, and engineering for disassembly, the components of HILOS shoes can be repurposed for new products at the end of life.

A Shoe-In

By using additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, along with materials that are 80% recycled and 100% recyclable, and by reducing the number of parts in each shoe to just a handful, HILOS aims to change this. In tests, HILOS’ shoes reduced carbon emissions by 48% and water usage by 99%, when compared to industry competitors’ production methods, the company says.

“We’re writing a new rule book,” Stahl says.

Brands also can use the platform HILOS has developed to create their own designs in the same way they’ve been used to, and fulfillment can occur in 72 hours from “click to ship,” Stahl says. 3D printing offers an “incredible “opportunity to reinvent global supply chains,” he adds.

Circularity and Community

As circular operations become more prevalent, more companies will work with each other, Gagel predicts. If a product is returned to a company that can’t use the plastic within it, that company can forward it to another organization that can.

While intellectual property and other challenges need to be addressed, “multiple circular economies” will be the next iteration, he adds.

Along with reusability and recyclability, the impact of returned items on society will gain more attention. “It’s like Expedia for the circular economy,” says Shawn Stockman, vice president of sustainability solutions with OnePak, whose online logistics platform, ReturnCenter, connects shippers, receivers, and carriers.

Many organizations currently consider three to five years the normal life for a laptop. Once that time frame passes, they often purchase new ones.

However, many computers can perform for another several years. When donated and refurbished, the computers may help individuals who otherwise wouldn’t have access to technology to find a job, or access medical care.

Shifting from linear to a circular supply chain operation often requires rethinking your organization’s approach to business overall, and many functions within it. These guidelines can help.

Enlist partners. You’re changing whole systems, so it’s not just a procurement or supply chain problem, Saenz says. Instead, supply chain leaders need to enlist the participation of marketing, finance, and other departments within their organization, as well as their suppliers, distributors, and other business partners.

Educate. Brands need to help customers understand the steps needed to repair or reuse their products.

Manage the change. One adage states that the effectiveness of a solution is determined by its quality multiplied by its acceptance, says Ken Sherman, president of IntelliTrans, which provides supply chain solutions.

If people don’t buy into a solution, no matter how stellar it is, you won’t gain the benefits, he adds.

Leverage internal expertise. The workers who do the actual refurbishing or remanufacturing often acquire tremendous product knowledge.

If, for instance, the legs on one sofa design keep coming off, these employees likely can suggest practical ways to keep this from happening, Toth says.

Engage your trade association. Longpre worked with the Bearing Specialists Association, a group of manufacturers and distributors, to form a sustainability task force.

“Working with your association is a great way to get ideas,” she says.

Address any skepticism. “Keep a level head and use facts and data” to show how a circular supply chain can work, Gagel says.

From a Single-Use Product to a Circular Business

The idea for a sustainable home furnishings company came to engineer Felix Böck after he had just given a seminar on sustainability in Vancouver, British Columbia, and a waiter threw away his chopsticks at a sushi restaurant.

“Suddenly, I understood that I had to show people how a circular economy works instead of just talking about it,” Böck says.
He began his startup, called ChopValue, creating coasters and cutting boards from disposed chopsticks, which are usually made of bamboo. The ChopValue team collects 350,000 chopsticks from restaurants in Vancouver each week—70 million in total across its operations to date.

The chopsticks are treated with high heat and pressure at franchise microfactory locations from Liverpool to Bali to create products like shelves, desks, wall panels, and stairs. On its own, ChopValue will not make a dent in the global trash problem. But if other businesses follow suit, the effects could ripple.

Source: Reasons to be Cheerful

Circular Economy as Profit Center

Seventy-four percent of supply chain leaders expect profits to increase between now and 2025 as a result of applying circular economy principles, according to a recent Gartner survey. On average, supply chain organizations have been applying circular economy principles for three years to approximately 16% of their product portfolio.

“There is still such a great deal of untapped potential in the circular economy,” says Sarah Watt, VP analyst with the Gartner Supply Chain practice. “Supply chain leaders can use the inflationary environment as a catalyst to reshape their relationship with materials. Instead of losing materials out of the economy in the form of waste, the circular economy helps capture value.”

Benefits and Barriers of a Circular Economy

The top three circular economy benefits that have been realized in previous years are:

• Minimizing negative environmental impacts
• Shorter and compact supply chains
• Enhanced customer insights

Common observed barriers to applying circular principles include the application of technology to advance circular economy activities, partnering with stakeholders and measuring the results of circular economy approaches, according to the survey.

The survey shows that respondents are making changes to the supply chain including integrating circular economy products into the planning process (54%), adding new capabilities to existing manufacturing sites (42%), and adding new locations for repair/ remanufacturing and waste management which are company owned (36%).

Looking out over the next three years, the focus will increase on procurement, with buyers being incentivized to purchase circular materials (41%).

Reduce deadhead-related emissions. Using technology and data to identify the most efficient load/carrier/lane match, while meeting service requirements, is a powerful method for mitigating those miles to reduce emissions and drive sustainability.

–Alex Schwarm
VP of Data Science
Arrive Logistics

Logistics companies can impact ESG with three key adjustments: avoid empty runs to reduce emissions, decrease yard wait times for driver well-being, and prepare to comply with forthcoming regulations. The transportation sector accounts for approximately 10% of global emissions and is on pace to double.

–Georgia Leybourne
Chief Marketing Officer
Transporeon

The biggest opportunity is reducing the wait time, or dwell, that drivers spend sitting at shipper docks. That wastes driver hours, and when they’re idling, they waste fuel. While electrification offers benefits, those are down the road. Drivers have 11 available hours they can drive every day, the best average 7 or 8. Reducing driver dwell can have a major impact on emissions reduction and achieving ESG goals.

–Greg Orr
President
CFI

Companies that ship a large volume of goods can review and adjust their shipping profiles to shorten the distance of travel needed between their goods and end-user delivery. This can be done by reducing the number of shipping zones, i.e., adding an additional distribution center closer to the final destination.

–Josh Dunham
CEO and Co-founder
Reveel

Adopt order consolidation and load planning. Reducing deliveries and over-the-road miles by transportation providers would deliver multiple benefits, including decreased emissions and expense, increased efficiency, and better profit margins. If you couple this with the electrification of final-mile delivery vehicles, you have a winning combination.

–Eric Elter
Director of Information and Technology Services
KDL Logistics

The key to making the most significant impact on ESG is simple but powerful—measuring better and more consistently. Achieving ESG goals requires ethical, authentic, and honest measurement to aligned standards within the industry.

–Glenn Riggs
Chief Strategy Officer
Odyssey Logistics

Focus on engaging suppliers to measure, report, and ultimately reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Remember, your suppliers’ direct emissions are your indirect (Scope 3) emissions. Engaging suppliers to require their reporting of emissions is a good first start.

–Ryan Lynch
Practice Director, Sustainability
BSI

Use greener fuel sources like biofuels and hydrogen fuel cells. These alternatives are more expensive than traditional fuels, but many carriers are providing this option already thanks to government incentives and rebates that help mitigate their costs. Making green fuel the standard will require changing the conversation within our organizations from one focused solely on logistics budgets to a broader sustainability discussion.

–Jeannie Carpenter
Senior Director, Global Logistics
Jabil

Standardization of digital documents like bills of lading and customs filings would go a long way not only in saving paper, but also in providing all key supply chain stakeholders with accurate data that would help them plan more efficiently and make greener shipping choices.

–Martyn Verhaegen
Chief Technology Officer
Magaya Corporation

One clear solution creates the largest impact (20-40% reduction). The greatest way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is switching from truckload to intermodal transportation. The reduction in ton-miles is material, and you gain the added cost savings associated with hauling your freight via rail.

–Jason Roberts
SVP & BU President
Avenger Logistics & MODE Enterprise Operations

Transparency would enact the most significant change. Companies tend to lack understanding of their primary suppliers, let alone those farther down the chain. Increased transparency, combined with the wealth of available information used for modeling ESG risks, would provide companies with real, actionable insight.

–Hugo Wegbrans
Global Head, Broking and Broking Strategy
WTW

Embrace a digital-first mindset. Many organizations are hesitant to disrupt the status quo and adopt new technologies. But embracing new tech (data analytics, AI, IoT, and more) is the only way to increase transparency, optimize resource usage, reduce waste, and improve efficiency in today’s fast-paced environment.

–Matthias Gutzmann
CEO and Founder
DPW

Switching to sustainable materials and packaging not only has an immediate environmental impact, but also addresses the expectations of various stakeholders, customers, and regulators. To initiate this shift, companies must first gather information on sourcing processes and integrating sustainability considerations into sourcing scores and decision-making for materially relevant supplier types.

–Katie Martin
Principal Lead, Sustainability & ESG
Avetta

Having visibility of cargo shipping costs and the time it will arrive, but also the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In assessing any goods’ overall climate impact, one needs to understand a complete GHG profile from sourcing, to manufacturing, to logistics impact, to use and disposal.

–Peggy Murphy
Global VP of Sustainability
PSA BDP

Ship your packages via the ground network instead of the express network.

–Micheal McDonagh
President, Parcel
AFS Logistics

Adjust your mode of transportation. With the supply chain slowly stabilizing, consider moving back from air freight to ocean freight; review if intermodal transport can augment trucking. In terms of carbon emissions, airplanes produce more than 40 times more greenhouse gas per ton mile.

–Andre Luecht
Director, Global Strategy Lead–Transport & Logistics
Zebra Technologies

Eliminating CO2 emissions resulting from shipping goods between locations (e.g. from one retail store to another) due to inaccurate forecasting, will make a big difference. To help advance sustainability, artificial intelligence-based allocation planning can ensure each store’s demand is forecasted by store and item.

–Inna Kuznetsova
CEO
ToolsGroup

Implementing real-time, anonymous feedback tools across all sectors of our supply chain, from truck drivers to warehouse staff, would be transformative for ESG. This approach equips workers with the power to voice their thoughts and issues fearlessly, enriching social sustainability by cultivating a truly inclusive and supportive work environment.

–Max Farrell
CEO
WorkHound

Optimize the supply chain around Scope 3 emissions. Upstream suppliers can be major contributors to positive and negative environmental, social, and governance externalities. By only looking at company direct impacts, an organization may inadvertently pick suppliers that reduce the overall efficiency of the end-to-end supply chain.

–Steve Johanson
Sr. Vice President, Network Optimization Industry Principal
Logility

The increased use of modern robotics to automate repetitive tasks can help transform manufacturing into a greener process where emissions are cut, less waste is produced, and more renewable energy sources are used to power the process. It won’t be an overnight transformation, but over time could be realized as long as the industry continues to incorporate environmental considerations as it evolves.

–Matt Somerville
Director of Sales, North America
Realtime Robotics

As a merchant services provider, product and transactional data integrity are essential. Accurate product and transactional information promote optimized packaging, shorter delivery distances, and reduced undeliverable shipments. ESG means expertise in this part of the supply chain, accurately representing products, cleansing addresses, intelligent order routing, and meeting compliance regulations.

–Andy Carrane
VP Product Management
Digital River

While recycling pallets is not a new concept, the constant sourcing of wood for new pallets is not sustainable. Replacing wood with pallets made of recycled materials such a single-use plastics or other sources that offer the same flexibility and low cost to serve would have a massive environmental impact.

–Melissa Somsen
Chief Commercial Officer
AFS Logistics

Currently many companies are working on building more sustainable supply chains, but with the pace of change we do not yet have standards. As we move forward companies should focus on working together, sharing information, and standardizing measurements. This will lead to both more efficiency and effectiveness in the journey.

–David Gessler
VP, Procurement and Supply Chain Management
Flex

Inefficient transport creates costly waste that impacts ESG goals. Real-time access to warehouse inventory, shipment status, order status, and carrier updates gives all departments alignment on a single source of truth. With real-time data access, stale data never compromises analytics efforts to support transport efficiency and other ESG efforts.

–Jerod Johnson
Senior Technology Evangelist
CData

Reducing “empty miles”—enabling carriers to back-fill trucks/containers/vessels with LTL shipments will massively reduce carbon/kg freight moved, optimize businesses and level the playing field for private fleets.

–Jim Heide
COO & Co-founder
Loadsure

Investing in route optimization solutions for last-mile operations can have a substantial impact on a company’s ESG performance. By reducing carbon emissions, improving operational efficiency, and achieving cost savings, this adjustment aligns with business growth strategies and environmental goals, and promotes responsible governance practices.

–Nishith Rastogi
CEO and Founder
Locus

Ensuring accurate tracking of their sustainability measures is the first step to success for organizations that are looking to improve their ESG. This quantifies progress and helps ensure initiatives are followed through on. Utilizing solutions, like an ERP system, helps promote visibility in reporting and takes the wait and guesswork out of understanding carbon and emission values. Leveraging this technology can quickly meet a variety of reporting requirements, whether that be company-wide, or down to a specific department, site, or material.

–Drew Schwoyer
Senior Sales Executive, Manufacturing Division
ECI Software Solutions

Companies need more visibility and transparency into their complete supply chain, from raw materials to finished goods. To achieve this, they must adopt a multi-enterprise platform, which allows businesses to map their supply chains and track chain of custody to ensure no forced labor or environmental abuses were involved at any stage of producing their merchandise.

–Eric Linxwiler
Sr. Vice President
TradeBeyond

Efficient transportation strategy is critical to making a big impact on ESG outcomes. By utilizing barcode labeling to get products to customers, companies can see how their goods move through the supply chain and reduce redundancies where applicable. This level of insight gives companies the ability to make changes that can improve efficiency and reduce energy use.

–Ravi Panjwani
President
Brother Mobile Solutions

Optimizing every freight shipment based on supply and demand, with unlimited vehicle types.

–Frazer Kinsley
Director of Partnerships
WARP

Information is power, and the biggest gap in supply chain ESG support is the lack of it. Having tools to allow supply chain managers to easily track, monitor, and assess emissions, people impact, and ethical compliance would enable a world of optionality that just isn’t there today.

–Joe Adamski
Senior Director
ProcureAbility

Many supply chains are focused on ESG initiatives as they navigate technological advancements and the changing marketplace dynamics. However, one effort that often goes unnoticed is employee education and engagement to better leverage human ingenuity in existing supply chain functions – allowing for further advancement of sustainability initiatives.

–Felix Vicknair
Vice President of Supply Chain Solutions
Kenco Group

Optimize load routing and eliminate empty miles. When shippers source the right truck for individual loads and track its route, carbon emissions decrease for a healthier environment. The implementation of EV and hydrogen infrastructure across North America is also on the horizon, but not fully at scale yet.

–Heidi Ratti
Chief Human Resource Officer
RXO

Tracking carbon emissions with advanced, cutting-edge technologies allows shippers to understand the true impact of their individual supply chain. Once accurate measurements are available, shippers can analyze the data findings and create goals that improve supply chain processes and reduce their carbon footprint.

–JJ Schickel
CEO
Omni Logistics

Traditionally, cost reduction has guided supply chain decisions. As a result, CO2 emissions, fair trade tracking, and environmental risk metrics are one-offs for many organizations. If organizations weigh these ESG elements alongside cost, service, and risk, they create a sustainability mindset in the organization and become part of everyday decision-making.

–John Ames
VP Business Development
Optilogic

Increased visibility. Fresh is one of most difficult sectors for companies to manage. By optimizing supply chain planning and making data more visible, retailers can bring certainty into the process. The result is a smaller carbon footprint for transportation and reduced food waste from spoilage.

–Svante Göthe
Head of Sustainability
RELEX Solutions

Implementing sustainable transportation methods, such as electric or hybrid vehicles, optimizing routing, and embracing alternative fuels, would have the most significant impact on ESG. This adjustment reduces carbon emissions, promotes environmental stewardship, and aligns with global sustainability efforts. It also enhances social welfare by improving road safety and reducing congestion, all contributing to a greener future.

–Sanjay Sharma
CEO
Roambee

While one could easily argue that improved working conditions for warehouse workers would have a significant social impact, transportation globally, from ocean to truck freight, contributes measurably to greenhouse gas emissions. The most impactful change would be to electrify (with renewable energy) the transportation of goods through the supply chain.

–Shawn Stockman
CLDA Member, VP for Sustainability Solutions
OnePak

Real-time product level visibility – of location and its current ecological impact, like carbon footprint. Enabling buyers or even end users to see authenticity and origination. This would allow for rapid identification of opportunities to reduce and remove emissions in the supply chain. If we can build a fast feedback loop we can finally operationalize sustainability.

–Antony Yousefian
VP Climate & Circularity
Wiliot

Aera Technology

www.aeratechnology.com

Aera Decision Cloud provides data-informed recommendations that consider sustainability metrics.

Command Alkon

www.commandalkon.com

Load Assurance uses direct contact, in-drum technology to measure concrete properties throughout the delivery process, which enables the reuse of returned materials.

DMW&H

www.dmwandh.com

Incorporates green initiatives into distribution and fulfillment facility designs to enable customers to cut energy usage, lower carbon emissions, and reuse and/or recycle materials.

enVista

www.envistacorp.com

Optimizes LTL, truckload, and private fleets to reduce total miles and required assets to move freight, which reduces CO2 emissions.

Flowspace

www.flow.space

Network Optimization determines the configuration within Flowspace’s fulfillment location network that enables merchants to optimally distribute inventory.

Freightgate

www.freightgate.net

A carbon modeling feature enables shippers to accurately calculate carbon emissions associated with their logistics processes and make data-driven decisions to reduce environmental impact.

LOG-NET

www.LOG-NET.com

An advanced multimodal carbon rating application evaluates carbon load factors for a variety of global supply chain scenarios.

LogiNext Solutions

www.loginextsolutions.com

SaaS platform helps large enterprises digitize their route planning operations to save fuel and reduce the carbon footprint at a global level.

Lucas Systems

www.lucasware.com

Software helps distribution centers reduce the amount of paper used for labeling and order fulfillment, and allows consolidated cartonization for products shipped.

MPO

www.mpo.com

Sustainability management offering enables users to calculate and minimize environmental impact across all execution steps.

Nexterus

www.nexterus.com

Helps companies advance supply chain sustainability by measuring, benchmarking, and improving freight transportation efficiency.

nVision Global

corporate.nvisionglobal.com

Environmental and social sustainability solutions provide value to customers while reducing the environmental impact of all activities within the global freight audit, payment and logistics information management services.

ShipHawk

www.shiphawk.com

Smart Packing software automatically configures every order to select the smallest box (that meets carrier standards) to reduce box and material usage.

SmartHop

www.smarthop.com

Technology that helps fleets optimize their routes and minimize unproductive trips, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Sparck

www.sparcktechnologies.com

CVP Impack and Everest auto-boxing machines create custom-fit parcels using recyclable corrugate that require no void fill.

Tecsys

www.tecsys.com

Intelligent route optimization software cuts wasteful mileage, associated equipment wear-and-tear, and CO2 emissions. Helps improve intra-warehouse and order picking routes through algorithms that reduce distance traveled and optimize resources.

Tive

www.tive.com

The company’s “Get Green” program is aimed at driving supply chain sustainability. It has two prongs: one focuses on a tracker rebate program that incentivizes customers to return trackers for refurbishment and repurposing; the other is dedicated to reducing Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions via providing real-time shipment tracking.

Trax

www.traxtech.com

To help with reporting mandates and environmental improvements, Trax uses its Carbon Emissions Manager solution to accurately track emissions from all vendors, lanes, modes, and regions.

Yard Management Solutions

www.yardmanagementsoftware.com

The Yard Jockey module reduces yard jockey travel distance by 30%, lowering CO2 emissions by approximately 450 pounds per week per yard jockey. With a 50-gallon fuel tank, this saves 15 gallons of fuel per week per yard jockey.