Green concepts: Sustainable logistics

What effects does the theme sustainability have on the transport concepts of the green industry? Taking a look at current examples.

spoga+gafa 2020 is placing the focus on the theme sustainability. In the light of the climate change, the green industry is increasedly thinking more about resource-saving solutions. Concepts for the transport of goods are an essential factor here. Sustainable logistics are gaining increased significance - and not only with regards to the stricter climate protection requirements. Green transport solutions offer both ecological and economic advantages.

Long-term one can assume that measures for the protection of the environment will have a stronger influence on the garden market. Particularly the transport sector is coming more and more under the focus of the politicians due to its share of the CO² emissions. In this way, with its Logistics 2030 innovation programme, the Federal Ministry of Transport is placing an emphasis among others on climate protection. "Automated, networked, digitalised, but also climate and environmentally-friendly," that is how the programme sees the future of logistics.

Manufacturers and the trade of the garden industry have been occupying themselves with sustainable transport concepts for some time already. An increasing number of companies have been relying on green logistics for years already. Punctual ordering and fast delivery play an important role here, since the garden market is characterised by seasonal peaks. The related alignment of the supply of goods not only reduces warehouse costs, but also saves resources.

"At the right place at the right time" is for example the motto of the spoga+gafa exhibitor, DHG. Among others, the sales company provides the market with potting soil and wood fuels. With up to approx. 18,000 full loads per year, logistics plays a key role for the company. A specialised team coordinates the procurement logistics. Decentralised production with regional raw materials saves freight and reduces the CO2 emissions. The compositions of the potting soils are also environmentally-friendly.

Sustainability in harmony with economic efficiency is also the target of the SynLOG Cooperation. The initiative for the suppliers of the house and garden industry offers an economically and ecologically viable concept. The joint sponsors are the Association of House & Garden Manufacturers and the Garden Industry Association (IVG). The bundling of consignments and the synchronisation of the deliveries are as equally important parameters as a cutting-edge vehicle fleet fitted with low-emission technology.

The three logistics companies Dachser, L.I.T. und GLS offer SynLOG transport logistics services. Whereby all of the partners pursue extensive sustainability concepts and dispose of high-performance, European-wide networks and communications systems. "The delivery of goods via these logistics partners not only avoids hold-ups on the ramps, but also significantly reduces the amount of traffic on the roads," commented Markus Schering, Executive Director of SynLOG. "This delivery process is an essential element towards achieving the goals of the sustainability programmes of many suppliers of the green industry."

Traffic plays a significant role in the achievement of the German climate goals for 2030. Other associations are thus also emphasising the significance of the topic for the green industry. For instance, the Federation of German Tree Nurseries (BdB) is expressly in favour of the goal of placing the focus of logistics on climate protection in future. The Retailers’ Association for Building, Home Improvement (BHB) demanded clear sustainability criteria for the logistics at its current annual press conference. Within the industry's tough competitive environment, these are increasingly becoming a criterion of differentiation.