Rise of Eco-Friendly Freight

By Brooke Hughes

In an era categorized by sustainable development and increased awareness of the state of the environment, transportation and logistic industries are turning towards more eco-friendly ways of operation. These industries comprise 27% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Although there are currently no federal laws to help mitigate emissions, these essential companies are implementing different methods, such as alternative vehicles and transportation consolidation, to help lower carbon emissions and promote sustainability.?

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What is Eco-Friendly Freight??

The transportation industry is implementing strategies and technologies that help to reduce the carbon footprint that freight leaves behind. This means that businesses are finding more efficient ways to transport their goods. Of the 250 leading global logistic companies, 96% now produce a sustainability report for their stakeholders. Not only is this good for the environment as it reduces the reliance on fossil fuels and lowers air pollution, but eco-friendly freight is also good for the economy. Leaning towards more sustainable transportation creates jobs in sectors such as electric vehicle manufacturing, renewable energy, and sustainable logistics.?

Methods & Why They Benefit the Environment

Businesses use a myriad of methods to make freight shipping more eco-friendly. These include using alternative vehicles, biofuels, transportation consolidation, and recyclable packaging.

???Alternative Vehicles

Some companies, like Amazon and DHL, have now turned to using alternative vehicles. This includes electric or hybrid vehicles, which combine conventional fuel engines with electric motors. Unlike a gas-powered vehicle, electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Electric vehicles are a great alternative for urban area deliveries.?

Biofuels

Biofuels are another alternative to using fossil fuels. Biofuels are fuels derived from organic materials or biomass. living organisms or their byproducts produce these fuels. Unlike fossil fuels, these materials can be replenished through natural processes. Ethanol and biodiesel are two main biofuels used to help diminish greenhouse gas emissions. Ethanol is made from starch-based crops, whereas biodiesel is made from vegetable oils, animal fat, or recycled restaurant grease.?

??????????Transportation Consolidation?

Optimizing routes using intermodal transportation is essential to reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability. Intermodal transportation is a fuel-efficient process that allows freight to be moved by two or more modes of transportation. In intermodal transportation, trucks are utilized for the initial and final legs of a shipment, while trains handle the long-distance transport of the goods. Intermodal transportation improves sustainability by consolidating freight and reducing individual trips from multiple, smaller shipments into larger, more efficient ones.?

Packaging

Not only is consolidation of shipments crucial to sustainability, but so is the packaging in which the shipments are placed. Recyclable packaging helps conserve energy and natural resources and keeps harmful material out of landfills. It includes cardboard, paper, glass, aluminum, and certain types of biodegradable plastic.?

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Innovation Used to Improve Performance of Sustainability?

Technology is changing how shipping companies work to be more eco-friendly. By adopting efficient techniques, these businesses are finding ways to reduce carbon emissions and improve operations for the environment.??

One advancement that freight operations have utilized is improving vehicle efficiency. Vehicle efficiency starts with electric or hybrid vehicles and automatic start-stop systems. An automatic start-stop system turns off the engine when the vehicle is stationary to reduce emissions.?

The transportation industry is improving analytics by gathering data on transportation routes, vehicle efficiency, and fuel consumption. In doing so, logistic companies can identify areas that need improvement in promoting sustainability. These improvements in the transportation industry to help the environment are the beginning steps to a more sustainable future.?

The shift into eco-friendly freight not only benefits the planet but also fosters innovation, economic growth and enhances air quality. An essential business such as freight transportation starting to embrace eco-friendly solutions is imperative for a sustainable and brighter future.