How to Reduce CO2 Emissions and Deliver Sustainability

During and since the Covid Pandemic consumers and businesses have become strongly reliant on online shopping, so it is not surprising that there has been a big increase in home delivery.

However, although e-commerce saved businesses and enabled many people trapped inside during lockdowns to continue purchasing goods, environmental problems have gone unaddressed. According to experts, the delivery of Christmas presents in 2019 increased by 145million and resulted in an additional 150,000 journeys by delivery vehicles creating 86,488 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

While e-commerce is under more pressure than ever, climate change and lowering our carbon footprint are also becoming more important for consumers and the planet. In order to fight this and encourage companies to be more environmentally friendly, the UK government has identified certain steps. The government is asking all of us to move toward sustainability, from climate change agreements (CCAs) to legislation that intends to ensure an end to the UK's contribution to global warming by 2050 and decrease all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by this date or earlier.

Now is the moment to start treating sustainability seriously, especially with 2022 setting new weather records for the hottest daily maximum temperature of 40.3 degrees centigrade in the UK and droughts being announced with hose pipe bans.

 

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What therefore can be done to improve delivery energy efficiency while also preparing companies for the transition to more environmentally friendly operations? Descartes UK's Head of Marketing Andrew Tavener thinks about ways to make deliveries more effective and environmentally friendly while still meeting customer demand.

 

Introduce efficiencies into your deliveries

Deliveries can be made more environmentally friendly and aligned with sustainability objectives by implementing various efficiency techniques.

These include:

• Minimising engine idling
• Eliminating revving
• Reducing excessive speeding
• Comparing the fuel consumption of drivers and vehicles

All of the above can be monitored using installed telematic devices, while the recorded data can be utilised to create reports on fuel efficiency and assist in changing drivers' behaviours. This information will pinpoint areas for improvement when instructing drivers to drive more economically, as well as aid in saving expenses associated with vehicle maintenance and service.

Commercial road transport operators can deploy fewer vehicles to carry more products and deliver with fewer miles by integrating mobile data communications for their drivers with leading-edge routing systems. The routing and scheduling software enables drivers to save time, and take the best feasible route, while also enabling the rerouting of a vehicle to avoid traffic.

This is possible thanks to greater visibility in the depot and an ideal delivery schedule set by the program. Transport companies may also add new deliveries quickly and easily. Customers being informed of a delivery's progress and any potential delays will increase the likelihood that packages will be received on their first delivery attempt and eliminate the need for repeat delivery.

 

 

Electric vehicles, such as vans, automobiles, motorcycles, and e-Scooters, can also use telematics and routing software. Vehicle routing software will calculate routes for EV's that are dependent upon range and battery charge as well as recharging station locations, it can even utilise cycle paths that are inaccessible to other vehicles.  Delivery schedules can be modified to account for the varying speed profiles for each kind of vehicle in the entire fleet using real-time traffic information. The programme also allows for the combination of routing for HGVs, vans, cars and bicycles, significantly enhancing the effectiveness of delivery. Organisations will increase the sustainability of their operations by adopting solutions that ensure electric vehicles reach their potential in terms of the number of deliveries in the available range.

In the fight against climate change, routing, mobile, and telematics software can cut fuel usage by as much as 25% and prevent the release of over 552,000 tonnes of CO2. There are several advantages to be realised, including the opportunity to significantly boost a fleet's capacity and guarantee improved delivery satisfaction.

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Benefit from more sustainable practices

In order to help courier services and delivery firms adopt more sustainable business practices, environmentally friendly solutions are easily accessible.

These solutions will further benefit the businesses in the long run while helping them to achieve alignment with UK gov objectives and requirements. The carbon footprint associated with producing and disposing of copious quantities of printed paper is greatly reduced by employing a system that automates manual operations and removes the need for documents, such as paper-based driver logs or proof of delivery documentation. Increasing operational efficiency and lowering fuel usage, enables transport operators to prove that they are doing all that is possible to move toward the net-zero target by limiting greenhouse gas emissions related to all their deliveries.

Commercial road transport operators must grasp the opportunity today to adopt the most up-to-date innovative software solutions to make every delivery more energy efficient. As the number of deliveries increases because of the sustained growth in eCommerce, so retailers must preserve the environment from climate change. Delivery companies must try to reduce their CO2 emissions and preserve the environment for the future by introducing operational improvements now and making a conscious effort to reduce their carbon footprint. Better for the environment is also better for your business.