For over thirty years, Grace Overseas has been dedicated to not only providing a high-quality freight service for our customers worldwide, but to ensure our services are doing so in a way that takes into consideration our carbon footprint.
The conservation of resources is something that we strive to incorporate in everything we do, despite the fact that at times the way in which our business operates we are placed in what is considered to be an environmentally hostile situation. In accordance with our own policies on GO’s carbon footprint, as well as those outlined in the Department for Transport’s Freight Carbon Review 2017, we take reasonable steps to minimise the impact that our services, be it air, rail, road or sea freight, has on the environment.
Freight carbon review
The Freight Carbon Review, published in 2017, outlined the impact that the UK’s freight industry has on the environment as well as objectives and future plans for this industry in enabling businesses to reduce their carbon footprint substantially.
The report stressed the importance of the freight industry on the UK economy, with road freight contributing an astounding £11.9 billion in 2015 and providing employment for an estimated 248,000 people, figures that are continually growing. Despite its importance to the economy, the industry does significantly impact on air quality, and therefore the government is supporting freight businesses in reducing emissions cost-effectively.
Referencing the Climate Change Act 2008, the report states that the UK has a strict target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 80% by 2050 from levels recorded in 1990. According to the report, heavy goods vehicles account for 17% of greenhouse gas emissions within the UK, a figure which the government will aim to reduce by 2032.
Amongst a number of plans, the government will consider the following in its effort to achieve reduced emissions from HGVs:
> In-cab driver monitoring and efficient driving to encourage improved fuel economy
> Improving engine efficiency through optimised fleet design
> Reducing the number of road miles via modal shift and the use of longer-semi trailers
> Furthering the use of alternative fuels
> Focusing on ‘radical’ solutions such as investment in electric trucks, e-highways and hydrogen fuel cell technology
To learn more about Grace Overseas’ commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, please contact our friendly team.
