If we really want to take the environment into consideration, it pays to look at the choice of transportation used to ship our paper to our customers! We wondered whether a switch from the typical ‘truck only’ system to a combined train/truck delivery method would have an impact on CO2 emissions. The result was clear: Yes, it pays off! Not only are we reducing CO2 emissions, we are also able to offer a more flexible service to our customers.
Traditionally we have shipped our speciality papers by truck to individual customers. In Germany two of our largest customers are located relatively close to each other. Having checked all environmental and cost aspects, we decided to test the idea of clustering shipments for both customers by train to a nearby transition stock point, from which shorter truck deliveries could then be made.
Rather than clocking up over 600 km made up of shipment A (323 km) plus shipment B (306 km) we decided to group the shipments (A+B) to a single midway transition stock point (315 km) from which shorter deliveries could be made to the nearby customers (shipment A = 45 km; shipment B = 15 km).
As well as reducing costs and halving the distance travelled, we managed to reduce our CO2 emissions by 112 tons. Customers benefitted even more with shorter delivery times!
We make Sappi eco-effective. How about you?
Patrick Steinbrenner and Gunnar Sieber, Alfeld Mill.
Hans Jürgen Peichler and Markus Hoeft, Wesel Logistics Center.
