How a German logistics company specialising in art delivery is making changes to do its bit towards the European Union’s 2050 target for carbon-neutrality
Digital fleet control, geothermal power sources for the warehouse and minimising or renting out packaging for art transport are three of the key processes Cologne-based logistics provider Hasenkamp has adopted in order to become more sustainable in its business.
CEO Thomas Schneider has used a number of recent logistics and art forums to call on his industry to pool their efforts and keep an eye on the economic costs of fighting climate change.
“Many measures that would be necessary and desirable are not yet possible or economically viable today,” Schneider says.
“For instance, charging stations for electric trucks are simply not available on a large scale.
“In order to achieve the EU’s climate targets, we need a more courageous, technology-neutral spirit of innovation at all levels of the industry.
“We can immediately tackle some of these issues – but then we also have to bear the additional costs together.”
In terms of Hasenkamp’s sustainability efforts, one step has been to have Dekra undertake an ISO-certification process on an annual basis to allow the company to report its efforts and costs to the public clients and customers in a transparent manner.
To improve efficiency the company has invested in digital fleet management systems that reduce the incidence of deadheading. They have also added electric vehicles to the fleet to transport staff and work materials, particularly in urban areas.
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Its art warehouses have been designed to be low energy buildings relying on electricity alone for their energy supply.
Schneider says the most modern warehouses either draw their power from renewable sources or are entirely self-sufficient thanks to photovoltaic systems and require no oil or gas whatsoever.
Another element is the use of sustainable packaging, or no packaging where possible.
Hasenkamp has a crate product it offers for rent that is both ecologically and economically efficient.
“For decades, Hasenkamp’s research and development departments as well as the company’s own manufacturing facilities have been developing specialised packaging systems for various scenarios,” Schneider says.
“Whether it’s a picture crate or a box for objects, Hasenkamp always pays attention to using sustainable raw materials, and to reusing and recycling them in a targeted manner in order to close the material cycle.”