The international logistics provider is taking continuous action to make its warehouse operations more ecologically sustainable.
From an all-timber warehouse in Austria to a direct rail connection at a warehouse in Slovakia, cargo-partner proves that efficient logistics processes benefit not only its customers, but also the environment.
When cargo-partner opened its all-timber iLogistics Center Fischamend on 12,500 m² near Vienna Airport in 2018, the company sent a strong signal to the industry in terms of sustainable architecture and green logistics.
4,200 m³ of timber were used in the construction, resulting in a CO₂ reduction of 8,400 t compared to conventional building materials.
However, the logistics provider’s efforts haven’t stopped there, and cargo-partner continues to work on reducing the CO₂ footprint of its operations.
So it is not surprising that cargo-partner’s offices and warehouses in Austria have been obtaining 100% of their electricity from renewable energy sources since 2017.
Stefan Krauter, CEO of cargo-partner, emphasizes: “When it comes to sustainability, our work is never done. Minimizing our environmental impact is a top priority and an ongoing effort throughout our company.
“Our iLogistics Centers in Fischamend and Dunajska Streda are just two examples which demonstrate that efficient logistics processes can often translate into a lower CO₂ footprint.”
Slovakia: Less CO₂ thanks to rail terminal
In Dunajska Streda, cargo-partner operates a 17,400 m² iLogistics Center which is directly connected to the METRANS rail container terminal.
This connection provides a unique advantage, as containers no longer need to be transported to the warehouse by truck.
Instead, cargo-partner uses special forklifts to unload the containers directly from the train to the warehouse via dedicated loading docks.
By avoiding road transport to a separate hub, cargo-partner achieves a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
Since the METRANS terminal provides ideal connections to the ports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven in the north as well as Koper and Rijeka in the south, more and more customers are making use of this convenient hub.
From January to July 2022, a total of 1,200 TEU were handled at cargo-partner’s warehouse in Dunajska Streda, which translates to 132,000 km or 40,000 liters of Diesel fuel saved.
Assuming an average of 966 grams of CO₂ per km, this means 127,193 kg of CO₂ were saved by handling shipments in Dunajska Streda.
Slovenia: Solar-powered days ahead in 2023
Since the opening of the iLogistics Center Ljubljana in 2019, customer demand has far exceeded cargo-partner’s initial expectations, prompting the company to start the expansion of the facility earlier than planned.
An additional warehouse building, set to open in November, will increase storage space from the warehouse’s current 25,000 m² to a total of 39,100 m².
To ensure that this growth is not only economically, but also environmentally sustainable, cargo-partner plans to upgrade the facility in 2023 with the installation of a large photovoltaic system on the roof. The “power plant” will produce 575 MWh per year, covering 34% of the company’s energy consumption and resulting in 273 metric tons of CO₂ saved each year.
Croatia: Off to the best start in a state-of-the-art facility
When investing in new warehouse facilities, cargo-partner chooses locations that follow the latest standards in regard to environmental sustainability.
This was also the case for cargo-partner’s new warehouse in Zagreb with 12,900 m² of storage space which took up operations earlier this year.
The building is certified according to BREEAM, an internationally recognized standard for sustainable building construction and operation.
BREEAM evaluates factors such as energy and water use, health and wellbeing, pollution, transport, materials, waste, ecology and management processes.
The building is fully equipped with LED lighting and holds 6,028 solar panels on its roof, producing an estimated 2,338 MWh per year.
As part of cargo-partner’s continuous efforts to make its logistics operations more sustainable, several other locations throughout Europe are also planning to bolster its photovoltaic systems in the near future. This includes the company’s warehouses in Fischamend, Ljubljana, Dunajska Streda, Bratislava, Sofia and Belgrade.
In the words of Stefan Krauter: “The ongoing global climate crisis is perhaps the most important challenge of our time. “We will continue to support environmental initiatives and implement sustainable technologies to work towards a better tomorrow.”
