Greening the Supply Chain with BT: Sustainability in Transport & Logistics

The Transport and Logistics industry, a cornerstone of global commerce, faces a pressing challenge: reducing its significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. As governments worldwide, including the UK, commit to ambitious net-zero targets, T&L companies must innovate and adapt to meet these environmental goals. This blog explores the industry's current emissions footprint, the UK's net-zero ambitions, and potential strategies for T&L companies to achieve greater sustainability by partnering with BT.

Transport & Logistics Carbon Footprint and UK's Net-Zero Target

The T&L sector is a significant contributor to UK greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for 26% of the nation's total emissions in 2021, making it the largest single sector responsible for GHG output (Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy). It's clear that the industry's reliance on fossil fuels for transportation and warehousing operations makes it a significant contributor to climate change. The UK government's ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 means that all companies, including those in T&L, must take decisive action to reduce their carbon footprint.

Low-Hanging Fruit for T&L Sustainability

While the transition to electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles may take time, there are several low-hanging fruit opportunities for T&L companies to reduce their emissions. With our expertise in technology and sustainability, we can play a vital role in supporting T&L companies on their journey to net-zero through…

• Fleet Optimisation: Utilising telematics systems like Geotab can help optimise fleet operations, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
• Warehouse Efficiency: Implementing energy-efficient solutions, such as those offered by Johnson Controls, can significantly reduce the energy consumption of warehouses and distribution centres.
• Supply Chain Mapping: Identifying and addressing carbon hotspots throughout the supply chain is crucial for overall emissions reduction. Tools like our Digital Carbon Calculator can measure your IT emissions and promote carbon transparency which is essential for responsible supply chain management.

Minimising IT Emissions

While IT emissions may make up a relatively small portion of emissions for T&L companies, they are likely to grow as the industry increasingly adopts AI and other advanced technologies. We can help minimise the IT-related carbon footprint through:

• Energy-Efficient Hardware: Implementing energy-efficient hardware, such as SD-WAN and lower carbon firewalls, can reduce the energy consumption of IT infrastructure.
• Carbon Neutral Data Centres: Utilising data centres with carbon-neutral or renewable energy sources can significantly reduce the environmental impact of IT operations.
• Adopt Digital Tools: Monitoring and optimising with our Digital Carbon Calculator and Carbon Network Dashboard can give you an accurate view of the emissions and energy usage associated with your IT estate and give you actionable data to choose more energy efficiency infrastructure and end point devices.

By adopting these strategies and leveraging our expertise, T&L companies can play a crucial role in addressing the climate crisis and building a more sustainable future.