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03/02/2012
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Transport operators are on course to meet their voluntary greenhouse gas reduction targets through efficiency improvement measures, according to the second annual report of the Logistics Carbon Reduction scheme.
 The scheme, set up by the FTA (Freight Transport Association), is the only sector-based initiative that records, reports and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions from logistics operators – and participating operators have committed to an 8% reduction in carbon emissions intensity by 2015.
During 2010 alone, the reduction recorded was 2.6%, meaning that participants were emitting less carbon dioxide even though vehicle mileages may have grown or remained the same.
"Pressures on businesses during the current tough trading times have not deterred scheme participants from continuing their investment of time and money into a wide range of carbon saving techniques," comments James Hookham, managing director of policy and communications at FTA.
"The LCRS is showing the benefits ... that are continually being made in transport operations to make them more efficient," he continues. "These have always been going on, but now we can quantify the effects and take credit for progress.
Hookham says that the goals for 2012 are to continue and potentially accelerate the emissions reduction trend.
"During 2011 we commissioned a web application from Heriot-Watt University that allows fleet managers to calculate the best carbon saving technique for them to invest in," he explains.
"The 'Carbon for Money' application compares the effects of nearly 40 fuel-saving techniques, from driver training to a switch of traffic from road to rail or water. This allows fleet managers to quantify the carbon savings from the investments they are asking their companies to make, and guide them through the maze of fuel-saving techniques available."
That application is free to LCRS members, and Hookham argues that the scheme presents a very low cost and low effort way for operators of all sizes to do their bit.
The scheme works by collecting fuel usage data from participating commercial vehicle operators and calculating carbon dioxide emissions. Data on vehicle mileages and company turnover are also collected to allow the intensity of emissions per kilometre and per million pounds turnover to be measured.
During 2011, membership grew to 59 transport operators, running between them more than 56,000 commercial vehicles (HGVs and vans), and received public endorsement of Logistics Minister Mike Penning.
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Author
Brian Tinham
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