Green Transport Cuts Emissions, Fuel Use and Cost

June 10, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

It’s simple and profitable to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to a new white paper from Chicago-based EA Logistics.

The company’s first whitepaper on green transport, “Getting It There Green: Why and How to Choose Sustainable Transport Partners,” provides the business case for green freight, along with the financial, risk-reduction and environmental benefits of adopting more sustainable shipping practices. It also identifies steps that can be taken by shippers to reduce their carbon footprint and choose suppliers who can help them achieve their sustainability goals.

The report covers several key areas where companies can make transport greener. These include conserving fuel, reducing idling, using alternative fuels, reducing packaging and neutralizing carbon. It also covers several strategies such as consolidating, optimizing routes, regionalizing, and changing modes to cut down on fuel use and emissions.

EAL says it was one of the first freight forwarders to provide free carbon offsets, “neutralizing” 100 percent of a shipment’s CO2 emissions by planting trees in the customer’s name. The company’s Delivered GrEAn program, launched in 2007, incorporates a host of sustainable practices, including the use of biodiesel in company-owned trucks, establishing anti-idling policies, enforcing drive speed limits, and maximizing route efficiency.

EAL has also achieved the highest score on EPA’s SmartWay fleet efficiency program and partners with other SmartWay carriers for most of its shipments. According to the EPA, moving freight in the U.S. accounts for 20 percent of energy consumed by the transportation sector, and truck and rail transport combined use more than 35 billion gallons of diesel fuel per year and generate more than 350 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.

The industry is making improvements. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), CO2 emissions from U.S. transportation dropped 5.2 percent in 2008, the largest annual decline since 1990. EIA says motor gasoline accounts for 58.7 percent of the transportation-related CO2 emissions followed by diesel fuel, which accounts for 23.2 percent of the sector’s emissions.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Make sustainability part of your strategy.

Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader