DB Schenker Moves to Reduce Its Carbon Footprint

June 10, 2009
Under four programs the global logistics service provider aims to reduce its carbon output worldwide by 20% for the period between 2006 and 2020.

With the Green Product Rail program, energy needed to transport freight by rail can, at the customer's request, be replaced by electricity generated from renewable energy sources in Germany, at what the provider terms a nominal additional cost. DB will then feed the same amount of electricity into the grid of Deutsche Bahn, so eliminating carbon emissions.

The Green Logistics Networks encompass DB Schenker's global multi-modal transportation network that includes trucks, rail freight carriers, ships and aircraft. DB Schenker will combine the strengths of each mode of transportation in order to provide a more cost-effective and more environmentally friendly overall product to its customers.

Green Road is a project combining all activities carried out to reach sustainable land transportation by road. It is mainly the mix of many specific environmentally friendly measures that helps to reduce the pollution load from road haulage. They include training truck drivers in energy-efficient driving methods; making greater use of rail freight transportation; improving capacity utilization of trucks; optimizing and modernizing the truck fleet and using improved fuels.

The purpose of the Green Terminals lighthouse project is to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon output in existing terminals, workshops and warehouses. It also is to examine and implement sustainable measures in new buildings and when existing buildings are modernized.