If there’s one certain thing, it’s that everyone, everywhere, should be doing all they can to be more eco-friendly.

And for the freight industry, that’s all the more important. Our role in protecting the environment is vital.

Green freight is a necessity in the future of transporting cargo, so what can you do to ensure your goods are moved in a more environmentally sound way?

The Impact Of Freight On The Environment

The freight industry is a key contributor to global emissions. This isn’t new information. But what does domestic and international shipping do to the environment?

Water Pollution

No freight mode is safe from damaging the environment, and the effects of shipping goods include air, water and oil pollution. 

Container vessels take on and discharge ballast water at various points of their journeys. Ballast water is held in ballast tanks in the ships to manage their stability in the oceans. Because it is taken on in one part of the world and discharged in another, the unique biological materials contained within the ballast water can often introduce invasive and non-native species to new waters, seriously impacting the marine environment. 

Landfill Waste

Proper packing is vital to protect your goods in transit. But the packaging shippers worldwide are choosing to use is contributing a huge amount to the world’s landfill waste. 

Unrecyclable plastic is the main problem. Thankfully, environmentally friendly packaging alternatives can help you work towards green freight but consider this. Around 4.2 billion packages are sent in the UK every year. That equates to nearly 4 billion trees that have been felled to supply us with the cardboard. 

Mindblowing, isn’t it?

Carbon Emissions 

Over 90% of world trade is transported by over 80,000 container ships. These vessels are responsible for around 3% of greenhouse gas emissions, but what about air freight? Moving your cargo from A to B using a plane produces 10 times more carbon dioxide than by ship. 

The increase in greenhouse gases that our atmosphere is experiencing causes the planet to warm up, and the effects of climate change include rising sea levels, more extreme weather and more forest fires.

Can’t picture how bad much of an impact the shipping world has on the environment? Studies show that Amazon emits nearly as much greenhouse gases as a small country. 

Packing Your Goods

So we’re agreed. Packing materials contribute to landfill AND deforestation. That means that going green starts before your cargo leaves for its destination with your packing choices.

As well as reusing and recycling packing materials where possible, these days, there are also eco-friendly alternatives readily available for you to use that will protect your goods in exactly the same way. 

Biodegradable Packing Peanuts 

Want green freight? Consider replacing polystyrene and other non-recyclables with biodegradable packing peanuts. 

These are a compostable alternative to their plastic-based counterpart and are made of plant-based, non-toxic materials, making the product perfect for protecting fragile items in transit. 

Mushroom Packaging 

It takes a giant to make something new popular, and IKEA is the European business leading us towards green freight packing by committing to using mushroom-based packing instead of other materials. 

An interesting product that we’re keeping an eye on for the future, mushroom packaging, is sustainable packaging made from the material structure of fungi. 

Seaweed Packaging

Seaweed packaging is being piloted by various start-ups around the world. Not only does the substance naturally decompose, meaning there would be no waste, but it’s edible!

Reports so far show that scaling up seaweed-based packaging could be a problem because it is expensive to process, but it’s one to watch. 

What If Plastic Is Necessary?

Sometimes, perhaps down to the nature of the goods in your consignment, you will need to use plastic packaging. If that’s the case, buy recycled plastic products to hold true to your green freight values. 

Efficient Packing 

Last on the list of green freight steps you can take before your cargo has even left the warehouse is the way you pack. Do what you can to optimise space with clever packing to reduce the number of shipments required. 

Transporting Your Goods

Some modes of transport are more environmentally friendly than others.

Going straight to green freight jail is air freight. Aeroplanes emit 44 times as much CO2 into the atmosphere as ships, and this is also more drastic given how high up into the atmosphere the emitting takes place. 

If you’re wondering which mode of transport is best for the environment, it’s rail. And that’s because of the huge reduction in exhaust emissions. If you compare a journey between China and Northern Europe, rail freight would consume 5 tons of CO2 compared to the 139 tons used by air freight. 

Some companies around the world are reviewing how they move their goods in a bid to save the planet, but this involves major changes to operations and plenty of planning. Lush, an ethical cosmetics company trying to make a difference, is aiming to cut its carbon emissions by transporting more goods over the water by sailboat rather than engine-powered. 

Is Electricity To Way Forward?

Making moves towards green freight is the electric vehicle technology becoming more common in the current climate. 

It has the potential to bring benefits such as reduced emissions, noise and air pollution, as well as saving operators of freight vehicles a whole load of money. 

Intermodality

Using intermodal transportation to move your goods from their point of origin to their point of destination means you can reduce carbon emissions where possible.

A big part of intermodal green freight is the use of standardised containers. Made of aluminium or steel, they stack together seamlessly and enable full optimisation of the capacity of each stage of the journey. Standardised containers can quickly and easily be unloaded from one mode of transport and loaded onto another.

Carbon Offsetting

The UK is among many countries pledged to reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Big things need to change, and that means changes to legislation. 

Businesses are preparing to adhere to the incoming regulations by beginning to offset the carbon their actions generate. If you offset your carbon, you actively become involved in schemes designed specifically to reduce the same amount of carbon in the atmosphere to bring the balance back.

Carbon offsetting:

• Brings huge sums of money to underfunded, necessary climate solutions
• Encourages technological developments like direct carbon capture technology, or DCC. 
• Enables businesses that can’t eliminate planet-damaging materials or processes to show their customers and shareholders they care.

Carbon offsetting helps business owners get ahead of the game and make the move to becoming carbon-neutral before we all get hit with new regulations. Not only is it good for the planet, but it can also boost your reputation.

Eco-Friendly Shipping Solutions Are Coming 

Green freight is the future of freight. Using eco-friendly packaging, adapting your transport and addressing your processes means you’re demonstrating your dedication to making a difference.

Here at Millennium, we care about making your routine shipments as green as possible. We can support you with route planning and carbon offsetting to help you feel like you’re doing your bit. Get in touch with us today.