IDS Green Logistics - the path to net zero emissions

Kleinostheim, 11 January 2024: Becoming climate-neutral, making optimum use of resources and taking responsibility for the environment: That is the goal of the standardised sustainability strategy of the IDS general cargo network. To this end, the cross-partner project "IDS Green Logistics" was launched in 2023 and the reduction targets on the way to climate neutrality were defined.

Last year, IDS established a cross-network sustainability structure - to learn from each other within the cooperation, exchange ideas and, above all, jointly drive the processes towards climate neutrality. The defined fields of action range from a network-wide standardised CO2e calculation methodology and clearly defined emission reduction targets to joint carbon footprint (CFP) reduction measures and their review.

The goal: IDS is completely climate-neutral by 2050

The entire IDS network with all partners, its 54 depots, the IDS central HUB and the system centre has set itself the goal of being climate-neutral by 2050. For IDS, climate neutrality means greenhouse gas neutrality, converted into CO₂ equivalents (CO₂e). But the path to net zero emissions does not happen all at once. IDS has therefore set itself the following reduction targets, calculated in % compared to the base year 2023 per tonne-kilometre:

by 2030: minus 21 per cent
by 2040: minus 60 per cent

The reduction targets are derived from the targets of the IDS partners. The four IDS partners DSV, Geis, K+N and Noerpel, which account for a significant share of IDS's total volume, have already begun defining their sustainability targets in recent years and documenting their progress in regular annual sustainability reports.

The focus of the IDS reduction targets is on the network carbon footprint, consisting of the transport and handling emissions of IDS shipments. These account for at least 95 per cent of the emissions generated in the IDS network and therefore mainly relate to Scope 3 emissions from an IDS perspective (franchising).

What IDS is already doing today

Numerous measures are already in place in the IDS network on the road to climate neutrality. Here are a few examples:

• In the IDS "Green" working group, the sustainability managers of the IDS partners work across the network on solutions and optimisations for resource-conserving, climate-friendly processes in the IDS network. This includes calculating the carbon footprint, switching to alternative drive systems including charging infrastructure, building up funding expertise, monitoring target achievement and much more.
  
  
• IDS has been calculating its carbon footprint in accordance with DIN EN 16258 since 2012 and will switch to the new DIN EN ISO 14083 standard from 2024. In future, the carbon footprint can be calculated quickly and easily at any time at consignment level and the planned reduction targets for 2030, 2040 and 2050 can be precisely monitored and controlled at any time.
  
  
• The first BEV lorries are already in use for IDS in Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne and Rosenheim. And there is more to come: IDS and its shareholders are testing the latest BEV, H2 and LNG vehicles for use in both local and long-distance transport as well as in the area of yard logistics ... and are gradually converting their fleet to "emission-free".
  
  
• An example of climate-efficient IDS processes: By locating the IDS swap bodies using GPS solar modules, IDS continuously optimises fleet management and ramp processes - and thus saves unnecessary vehicle movements.

Sustainable measures are also in place at the IDS system centre and the IDS central HUB. Two examples:

• Since the beginning of 2021, the IDS headquarters has been gradually converting its car fleet to purely electric vehicles. After all, if trucks are to be CO2-neutral on the road on a large scale, the IDS headquarters also wants to show how e-mobility works. By 2025, all company vehicles at IDS headquarters will be purely electric and will save 54 per cent of fleet emissions from 2021 (245 tonnes of CO2e p.a.) by then.
  
  
• Since spring 2020, a photovoltaic system on the roof of the IDS central HUB has been providing green electricity. IDS uses around 70 per cent of the electricity it generates itself for the transshipment hall and office building as well as the electric forklifts and high-speed trucks. The rest is fed into the power grid. So far, around 670 tonnes of CO2 have been saved thanks to the photovoltaic system.

What's next?

The IDS Green working group meets regularly to develop and launch further measures to reduce the carbon footprint, monitor the effectiveness of the processes introduced and the status of target achievement and make any necessary corrections. For example, a regular sustainability report for the IDS network and new sustainable products for the climate-friendly transport of consignments are being planned.

Caption: IDS sets milestones on the road to climate neutrality by 2050. (Source: IDS)

IDS Logistik GmbH - The general cargo network in Germany:

With 54 locations, 16.7 million consignments (2022) and around 7,100 employees, IDS Logistik GmbH is the largest general cargo cooperation in Germany. IDS realises transports to other European countries with the national companies of its franchisees and with selected European partners. The full-service offering ranges from procurement, storage and distribution to returns management. The company serves clients from the B2B and B2C shipping sectors.

IDS press contact
MAIN WORT
Susanne Crecelius
Heidigweg 69
63743 Aschaffenburg
Tel. 06028 400 304
info@main-wort.de