Reduction of carbon footprint

One thing we often emphasise in our blog is that, as a company, we have an environmental responsibility to respect and fulfill. The road freight transport and logistics sectors contribute significantly to climate change, and at Conde Fernández Hermanos we are no strangers to the impact of our own activities. That is why, since 2014, we have been taking measures to reduce our carbon footprint.

The carbon footprint is the indicator that records the volume of greenhouse gases produced by any entity. In Spain, the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge is responsible for managing the carbon footprint register. The data in this register is very important for a company like ours, as it allows us to detect not only our impact on climate change, but also where our CO₂ emissions come from. In other words, this information allows us to take measures to reduce our carbon footprint.

For this reason, at Conde we have registered once again with the Ministry for Ecological Transition. Now that we have the data for our activity in 2024, we can say that we have done it again: we have reduced our carbon footprint once more! And this is very important for the following reasons.

Reducing our carbon footprint: a shared goal

Road freight transport and logistics are sectors we cannot do without. In fact, in the European Union alone, the traffic generated by these companies’ fleets is expected to grow by more than 50% by 2050. But greater dependence on our field of work means a greater impact on the environment. This means that companies in these two sectors must ensure that we mitigate this impact as much as possible. Climate change is an increasingly urgent problem, and we all have a responsibility to combat it.

Looking ahead to 2030, the goal in Europe is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% compared to 1990 levels. Although this may seem an unlikely figure, it is a challenge we can meet if we all do our bit. Naturally, companies in a particularly polluting sector such as ours must make an extra effort to mitigate the effects of our services.

The latest data from the Ministry for Ecological Transition is nothing to sneeze at: road freight transport accounts for 28% of CO₂ emissions in Spain. It is therefore essential that we all be aware of the need to care for the environment. Since we first registered our carbon footprint, at Conde we have implemented highly effective measures to reduce our environmental impact, without affecting our business activity. This is thanks to the constant work we have done over the years, which has enabled us to achieve exceptional long-term performance.

How to reduce the carbon footprint of a transport and logistics company

Minimising the impact of our activities on the planet is easier than it seems. We won’t deny that there may be an additional cost in the short term, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. Remember that reducing your carbon footprint is not a one-time goal. Even if you meet your targets for this year, don’t settle for that, aim for more! Above all, be efficient and take measures that benefit your business in multiple ways. At Conde, for example, we have managed to reduce our carbon footprint and improve our services in the following ways.

We measure our fleet’s fuel consumption

The integration of GPS systems into transport fleets is now widely accepted. We use them to manage our routes and loads, yes, but also to measure the fuel consumption of each of our lorries. A GPS system does not detect your vehicle’s greenhouse gas emissions on its own, but it does record your fuel consumption, driving time, kilometres travelled and other relevant information. It is this data that allows us to calculate our emissions accurately, which is why measurement is essential in our company.

We make the most of the truck’s capacity

The advantage of offering groupage and full load services is that we can adapt to all circumstances and therefore be much more efficient. Making a delivery with an unloaded vehicle is not only a loss for the company, but also a journey that contributes to pollution. In this sense, it is important that our fleet makes only the necessary journeys, optimising the goods so that the benefit is twofold.

We optimise our routes and logistics operations

When it comes to freight transport, there is not much to explain. It is clear that planning routes to minimise travel time means less pollution. But at Conde, we are aware that our fleet is not the only source of pollution in our company. Our warehouses and logistics centres also consume fuel and electricity, so proper and efficient management is key.

We renew the vehicles in our fleet

This is undoubtedly the most expensive measure, but also the most necessary. A transport company cannot operate if its fleet is not in good condition. In addition, advances in the automotive industry continue to provide us with increasingly efficient and sustainable trucks. When renewing and expanding our fleet, at Conde we have taken into account multiple factors to ensure that the new vehicles meet all our quality standards.

In 2024, we managed to reduce our carbon footprint once again

The Ministry for Ecological Transition has already provided us with data on our carbon footprint in 2024. At Conde, we are very pleased with the results, as not only do they maintain the downward trend we have seen in recent years, but they are also, without a doubt, our best figures yet. Last year, we recorded a carbon footprint of 1,620.6 tonnes of CO₂, 38.47% less than in 2023!

This is the largest reduction we have achieved. In 2023, we managed to reduce our carbon footprint to 2,634.04 tonnes, compared to 2,898.67 and 3,553.14 in 2022 and 2021, respectively. When we said that this is a long-term responsibility, this is what we meant. Your business’s carbon footprint will not disappear overnight, but rather we must work every day, little by little, to mitigate it, and at Conde we are committed to achieving this for another year.