One of the biggest topics within the transport and logistics sector in recent years is how to make the industry greener. The environmental impact of our everyday activities is something which we’ve all become more aware of, and it’s something which affects all businesses, whatever your sector. This is particularly pertinent as a result of the UK’s drive to become carbon neutral by 2030. However, our reliance on HGV vehicles and lorry transport within our sector means that it is an issue which is perhaps at the forefront more than others.
Lorry’s and HGVs are not known for their environmental credentials, however, there are steps which businesses within our industry can take to help reduce their carbon footprint and support the UK’s drive to become carbon neutral.
In this article we’ll be taking a look at some of the ways lorry transport and the wider logistics sector can aim to become more environmentally friendly as we approach the government’s 2030 milestone.
Green Schemes
Today, many accreditations take into account environmental factors within their scoring. One example of this is FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme). Hammond Transport is proud to hold the FORS Gold accreditation of the FORS scheme, but each level of the accreditation contains an element of environmental awareness.
FORS has been designed to improve standards across the industry, and part of this is our impact on the natural world. Any business which applies for the FORS accreditation needs to showcase what steps they are taking to become more environmentally friendly, for example reviewing and improving the fuel efficiency of their vehicles.
Sustainable Practices
The introduction of sustainable practices within the industry is another way our sector can become greener. This could be something as simple as recycling schemes within our warehouses and offices or switching to LED lighting, through to investing in more efficient vehicles which have technology that helps to reduce emissions.
Green Fuel
Traditional lorries and HVGs are powered by diesel – a fuel which is notoriously bad for the environment. As a result, there has been a move towards more sustainable fuels in recent years, such as electric or biofuel. Currently, it’s still early days for sustainable fuels and there is some way to go to sustainable fuels matching the output of traditional fuel, however, it is something in the pipeline which could transform the way the industry operates.
Education
Ensuring everyone is on the same page when it comes to environmentally friendly practices is key to ensuring the wider sector embraces a greener way of operating. Ultimately this boils down to education and ensuring that your team understands what they can do to help. Training courses are an ideal first step for this, whilst introducing green policies throughout the company can help support everyone’s buy-in. From drivers through to office staff, everyone has a role to play in creating a greener future for lorry transport and the logistics sector.
