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At the heart of public policymaking is a commitment to make the movement of goods and people more efficient. James Hookham, Managing Director for Policy and Communications, at the Freight Transport Association give his opinion on sustainable logistics. The Government faces tough carbon reduction targets and a significant proportion of Britain's emissions come from transport, roughly a third. Around 20 per cent of these are from commercial transport. It can be argued, then, that without tackling transport Britain cannot tackle carbon. One key part of this is the smarter development of transport around the workplace, and around both new and existing developments. This is why Delivery and Service Plans are so important. For example, if a company orders stationery several times a week, a little co-ordination can ensure that deliveries are grouped together, and timed to arrive outside the morning rush. Business imperatives are not prejudiced and the delivery of stationery saves carbon and money. Delivery and Service Plans require a proactive decision to challenge existing practices and improve the efficiency of deliveries to your business; or from a logistics perspective about working smarter to cut the number of lorry and van miles down to a necessary minimum. This creates a more efficient roadspace and saves money at this time of heightened fuel costs. FTA is thoroughly committed to working with partners to promote sustainable logistics, and looking to reduce the blight on communities and neighbourhoods brought by the important deliveries the economy needs. This is why we have worked with the Noise Abatement Society, private sector partners such as Sainsbury's and the Department for Transport to run the Quiet Deliveries Demonstration Scheme. The purpose of the Scheme was to test the most effective ways of delivering to a variety of different environments and mitigating the necessary environmental and social impacts of these deliveries. These trials have been key to more effective working in the future. FTA members are also working hard to train their drivers to the very highest standards in safe and fuel-efficient driver training, which makes both economic and environmental sense. Minimising fuel usage is the Holy Grail for all transport operators, but it starts with training the drivers themselves. For example, any new vehicles introduced to the fleet should be accompanied by training on appropriate driving style (gear changing/braking). Regular refresher training and regular feedback on their fuel efficiency performance will help this process, and as a training provider FTA can see that this message has been picked up wholesale by the industry. |
Another important battleground in the fight against carbon from logistics is the possibility of moving goods by more sustainable means. For some types of load this will mean rail, for others coastal or short-sea shipping. However, there is some concern that the necessary infrastructure for developments is under threat from Government policy. Britain has insufficient rail freight terminals, and the Localism Act as passed earlier this autumn poses a threat to sustainable logistics in as much as strategic infrastructure of this nature is not protected from local objections in the way that major national infrastructure is. This makes developments such as rail freight terminals requiring private finance vulnerable; and although they have been promised protection in the National Planning Framework; as yet this has not been forthcoming. It is not only important that each business takes all the steps at its disposal to make logistics more sustainable, it is also important that businesses share best practice if time and money is not to be wasted re-inventing the wheel. FTA has therefore co-ordinated the Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme, a pioneering drive to create Britain's first carbon reporting scheme for commercial transport. This requires members to record and report their carbon emissions over a period of time, and has already seen impressive results in its first year. Furthermore, it is growing as the sustainable message permeates the industry ever further. From 12 original members, the schemes now numbers more than 50 and represents over 55,000 commercial vehicles just 18 months later. The conclusion that can be clearly drawn is that sustainable logistics is about a whole package of measures, rather than any one individual silver bullet. However, the logistics industry is aware of the challenge, and supported by Government it will do everything in its power to achieve meaningful change. For more information contact:
James Hookham |
WINTER 2011
