Reducing CO2 emissions in freight transport

In a post-pandemic world, the need to mitigate the impacts of climate change has been demonstrated to be enormous. Our duty lies in creating a more efficient environment, where resources are not wasted and the impact of human activity on the climate is limited. We can no longer return to a “business as usual” approach that neglects our planet after the health crisis we have experienced, now is the right time to establish a sustainable and efficient transport model.

To prevent the global temperature from exceeding the critical threshold of 1.5°C compared to the pre-industrial era, we take responsibility for reducing the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) we release. It is important to highlight that the logistics and transport industry is one of the main generators of GHG emissions, and in Spain, specifically, it is estimated that road transport is responsible for 15% of all these emissions.

For this reason, at Conde Fernández Hermanos we strive every day to promote change towards more sustainable transport by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The importance of carbon footprinting

Carbon footprinting is a method for measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated both directly and indirectly in a given process. It is applied to a variety of activities, whether industrial, commercial or even individual, everyday activities, such as a specific event. When calculating the carbon footprint, not only GHG emissions are taken into account, but also CO₂ absorption projects that offset part of these emissions. This means that an activity may emit a certain amount of CO₂, but can also offset those emissions by planting trees, resulting in a reduction of the total footprint.

Each company should have a register certifying its efforts to contribute to sustainable development, detailing the measures it implements to reduce the environmental impact of its activity. In this respect, logistics plays a key role.

Together with industry, the transport sector is responsible for a large part of the CO₂ emissions released into the atmosphere.

European Commission raises CO2 emission reduction target for lorries

“The European Commission raises the CO2 emission reduction target for trucks with new, more demanding targets: a 45% reduction from 2030, 65% from 2035 and 90% from 2040.”

The European Commission has increased the CO₂ emission reduction targets for trucks in Spain. The proposal states that by 2030, new trucks must reduce their emissions by 45% compared to 2019 levels. This is an increase of 15% compared to the previous target of 30%.

The measure aims to contribute to the fight against climate change and promote the adoption of more sustainable vehicles in the road freight transport sector.
It is expected that this regulation will encourage the incorporation of cleaner and more efficient technologies in trucks, such as electric or hybrid vehicles, as well as improvements in aerodynamics and energy efficiency. The proposal must be approved by the European Parliament and Member States before it enters into force.

4 tips to reduce emissions from freight transport

• Optimise transport routes and use intelligent groupage of loads. Optimising freight transport through groupage and route planning allows you to maximise the load capacity of each vehicle, saving fuel and time.
• Use fleet management systems. There are different technological and IT applications that aim to optimise freight traffic in a more organised way, thereby reducing fuel consumption and reducing CO₂ emissions. Using efficient fleet management systems allows the reduction of the carbon footprint by up to 2% annually.
• Use sustainable, more efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles. In recent years there has been a boom in the manufacture and sale of environmentally friendly vehicles and trucks, which use alternative energy sources such as natural gas, which plays an important role in the decarbonisation of the global economy.
• Promote fuel efficiency through good driving practices and driver awareness. Intelligent driving, i.e. taking into account starting, braking, speed, etc. contributes to reducing fuel consumption by 10% and, consequently, CO₂ emissions.

Conde Fernández Hermanos reduces carbon footprint in road transport

In addition to all these considerations, it is very important to calculate the carbon footprint personally in order to apply the necessary measures to reduce it.

At Conde Fernández Hermanos, if we compare the carbon footprint measurement data, between 2021 and 2022, we have avoided the emission of 654.47 tco2 in one year:

We are determined to continue working for a more sustainable world in which the transport of goods is more environmentally friendly. If you are looking for an environmentally responsible transport provider, do not hesitate to contact us, we will be delighted to help you.

Conde Fernández Hermanos, committed to continue our efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions.