Plans for the company’s Contract Logistics freight warehouse operations include a variety of measures, including solar panels on DC roofs and targets for its material handling equipment (MHE) fleet, which according to CEVA must contain 40 percent or more eco-MHE (lithium-ion and gel battery) lift trucks or other MHE units by 2023.
The global third-party logistics (3PL) company CEVA Logistics today announced that all of its contract logistics and freight warehouses will switch to low-carbon electricity by 2025. The commitment will rely on a combination of increasing its own electricity production using rooftop solar panels, which the company will triple by the end of 2025 and purchasing low-carbon electricity (renewable and nuclear) from regional utility providers.
In addition, CEVA expects to reach 100 percent LED lighting in its warehousing facilities by the end of 2023. CEVA Logistics finished 2022 with LED lighting in approximately 80 percent of its contract logistics warehouses. As part of its multi-million dollar investments in energy efficiency, the company anticipates achieving 100% by the end of 2023. In addition to the lighting project, the company is putting into action a number of heating and cooling projects to lower its energy usage.
The fleet size of CEVA’s lithium-ion material handling equipment (MHE) is also expanding. In 2023, the global logistics provider projects that eco-MHE (lithium-ion and gel battery units) will make up 40% of its global fleet. Beyond the obvious emissions savings from moving away from combustion MHE powered by diesel or LPG, the company is also observing an average 16% emissions reduction during the charging process when switching from a lead-acid battery MHE to more environmentally friendly lithium-ion batteries.
The surface area of solar panels covering the roofs of CEVA’s contract logistics warehouses around the world will be tripled through a $180 million joint investment with real estate partners. About 1.8 million square meters of solar panels are anticipated to be installed at the company’s facilities by the end of 2025, which is an area 2.25 times larger than France’s renowned Palace of Versailles. The company predicts that with this coverage area, it will produce about 135,000 MWH annually.
By integrating lessons learned across operations on various continents and nations, CEVA strengthens the power of its global network, the company continued. While operations in the Benelux region generate more electricity than they use, CEVA is already operating in the U.K. on 100% low-carbon electricity. Renewable and low-carbon electricity will be indispensable in sustaining those operations as newer markets grow. In 2022, CEVA unveiled a brand-new zero-emission warehouse in Bogota, Colombia.
In addition, CEVA emphasizes its dedication to environmental preservation as a member of the CMA CGM Group. The Group is making investments in research and development to promote the development of low-carbon energy sources and technologies that will lessen the environmental impact of shipping and logistics. The CMA CGM Group aims at being net zero by 2050.
Mathieu Friedberg, CEO of CEVA Logistics, said: “The global logistics sector must improve its methods of operation in order to eventually lessen the impact of its energy use and carbon emissions on the environment. These investments are both morally right and economically sensible. Through initiatives like these in our contract logistics operations and across all of our product lines for finished vehicles, aircraft, ships, and the ocean, we will keep working to create a more sustainable model.”
Thanks to its approximately 110,000 employees at more than 1,300 facilities, CEVA Logistics, with its headquarters in Marseille, France, provides a wide range of end-to-end, customized solutions in contract logistics and air, ocean, ground, and finished vehicle transport in 170 countries around the world.
Reference: https://www.scmr.com/
