Transportation is the most critical component of our globalized economy. Enabling goods and freight to be transported across the world at an unprecedented scale. As a matter of fact, the volume of global seaborne trade was estimated to be around 11 billion tons in 2021, whereas in 1990, only about 4 billion tons of goods were loaded in ports worldwide (Source: Statista). This is an increase of 275% in just 31 years! Additionally, 7.64 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) were emitted of the transportation sector in 2021, whereas only 4.61 billion metric tons were emitted in 1990 (Source: Statista). This results in an increase of just 166% in 31 years compared to the 275% increase of traded goods. Nonetheless, this only highlights that engines got more efficient but the impact on the environment still increased.
Globalization has enabled some companies, like Apple or Amazon, to be valued higher than the yearly GDP of some countries, however this has also contributed to environmental degradation and the acceleration of climate change. It’s more important than ever for the transportation industry to prioritize sustainability, not just to reduce its impact on the environment, but also to ensure a sustainable future for the industry and the global economy. In this blog post, we’ll highlight two examples, how Numode Delivery tackles the environmental challenges of our time and why Numode is a sustainable courier.
Numode’s Trucks – How we use them to be a Sustainable Courier
First of all, it is important to mention the characteristics of our fleet of trucks, before we get into how we use them to meet our sustainability goals. All of our trucks are from 2016 or newer, which means that they are equipped with more efficient engines, and were also built to meet today’s stringent emissions regulations. Additionally, we equipped our trucks with exhaust gas recirculation filters (EGR), which contain several harmful pollutant emissions, to keep them from getting released into the environment. This reduces the impact on the environment our trucks have.
The trucks itself are just one side of the medal, how we use them is equally as important. To illustrate how we use our trucks to be a sustainable courier, we will explain the benefits of using the same truck for morning and night deliveries, and how driver behavior has a huge impact on our sustainability goals as well.
Using the same Truck for Morning and Night deliveries – The Benefits for the Environment
Firstly, using the same truck for morning and night deliveries saves a lot of very valuable materials and resources, which start to become scarcer every year and which emit a lot of pollutants during the manufacturing process. The manufacturing of a semi truck requires a wide range of materials, including steel, aluminum, plastics, rubber, and several electronic components. Steel is the primary material used to manufacture the frame and body of the truck. Other components such as the engine, transmission, axles, and wheels are also made of steel. Aluminum is used for various parts of the truck, such as the cab and the trailer. Plastic is used for interior and exterior components, such as dashboards, door panels, and bumpers. Rubber is used for tires, seals, and hoses. The production of the electronic components has probably the worst environmental impact. From the impact of extracting the raw materials, to the energy consumption during manufacturing, to the disposal of electronic waste. Moreover, the extraction of necessary rare and precious metals leads to environmental degradation and displacement of local communities. Oxfam released many comprehensive reports about the impact of mining on the lifes of the local communities. By using the same truck for morning and night deliveries, we cut down dramatically on the negative impact on these local communities. Additionally, the manufacturing of a single semi truck can require up to 9,100 L of diesel fuel and generate over 20 tons of carbon emissions.
Driver Behavior – The Impact on the Environment
Secondly, driver behavior plays a critical role in the environmental impact of transportation. While vehicle manufacturing has a big impact on the environment, driver behavior significantly affects fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. We will focus on four specific driving behaviors – idling, speeding, accelerating, and braking.
Idling is one of the most significant contributors to fuel consumption and emissions. When the engine is running, it burns fuel but does not move the vehicle, wasting fuel and emitting unnecessary pollutants into the air. Idling is also harmful to the engine, causing increased wear and tear and reducing its lifespan. This requires new parts or even a new truck quicker than with reduced idling. Numode avoids idling by collaborating with our customers. We create an individualized delivery schedule to coordinate deliveries more effectively and therefore reduce unnecessary waiting and trips.
Speeding is another significant contributor to fuel consumption and emissions. The faster a vehicle goes, the more air resistance it encounters, requiring more energy to maintain the speed. This results in increased fuel consumption. In addition to that, speeding is also dangerous and can lead to accidents with other vehicles or wildlife. Speeding also puts additional wear and tear on vehicles, which can lead to more frequent maintenance and replacement of parts, thereby increasing the environmental impact of producing new vehicle parts. Numode provides their drivers with Defensive Training Sessions to act safely behind the wheel.
Accelerating and Braking also have a significant impact on fuel consumption and emissions. Rapid acceleration and hard braking require more enegery, burn more fuel, and wear the vehicle more, than smooth, gradual acceleration and deceleration. This process of constantly braking and accelerating can lead to up to 30% more fuel consumption and a corresponding increase in harmful emissions. Additonally, agressive acceleration and braking puts more stress on the engine and other mechanical components of the vehicle, leading to more frequent replaement needs. To reduce this, Numode trained their drivers to accelerate gradually and to anticipate stops to avoid sudden braking, reducing their environmental impact while also saving on fuel.
Numode’s Partnerships – Who we work with to be a Sustainable Courier
We take our environmental impact very seriously and are constantly on the lookout to achieve our sustainability goals. That is why we’ve partnered with Reclaim Plastics, a leader in the automotive recycling industry, to help achieve our sustainability goals. We’ve found a unique way to work together by delivering them with used car bumpers that they can then recycle into new products. Car bumpers are mostly made out of Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO), which can be used to create entirely new products, such as plastic piping, landscape edging, or even new car parts. By doing so, we’re able to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and oceans.
Our partnership with Reclaim Plastics has allowed us to create a closed-loop system where the plastic waste that we collect is turned into a new product. This means that we’re also able to reduce the amount of virgin plastic that needs to be produced, which saves valuable resources and energy. By using recycled plastics, we’re able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution associated with the production of new plastics.
At Numode, we’re committed to finding innovative ways to reduce our environmental impact. Our partnership with Reclaim Plastics is just one of the ways that we’re working towards a more sustainable future. We’re proud to be part of a growing community of businesses that are committed tomaking a positive impact on the environment.
Numode Delivery Solutions has been the leading voice for same-day courier and trucking in Metro Vancouver since 2016. Explore the individual delivery options we offer, or get in touch with us.
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