Commercial GreenFleet Written by Patrick Gallagher, CitySprint Group CEO
LOGISTICS
Re-examining logistics the zone will cover an area 18 times larger than originally planned. In addition to this, five other cities – Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Nottingham and Southampton – have been mandated to implement Clean Air Zones (CAZ) by 2020 as part of the government’s long-term strategy to improve air quality though, recent research we carried out, across the country. It’s clear that the Collaborate UK – which explores the attitudes government means business and companies of SMEs – found that while a third (31 per which neglect their fleets risk being hit cent) of London businesses believe ULEZ with hefty fines. As such, they must take will have a positive impact for them, 50 action now – moving away from diesel and per cent haven’t taken any steps to petrol to add more alternatively-fueled prepare for its implementation. vehicles to their fleets. Too often It is crucial that businesses in the past sustainability has operating within the Ultra been viewed as a cost to a Some Low Emission Zone rebusiness. This simply isn’t organis ations examine their supply the case. Sustainability my hav chains in order to helps drive efficiency e to rethink understand which as well as cut cost and t h e location of their part, or parts, may improve reputation in the public’s eye. be affected by the centres distribution or ware Business owners that tighter regulation houses and redon’t take the matter and to ensure they e seriously are putting their are compliant. After their vexamine entire enterprise at risk. all, the implications of hicles The key is to start ULEZ will be different for small. Instead of replacing every business, depending on all vehicles with electric or where suppliers and customers alternative energy sources at once, are based. For some, operations may fleet operators should look at making be barely affected – impacting a relatively incremental changes to the most at-risk small number of customers – while other areas to make them compliant. I can’t stress businesses will have bigger questions such enough the importance of businesses not as whether to rethink the location of their putting limits on the type of sustainable distribution centres or warehouses. vehicles they’re willing to use. From cargo bikes and electric vehicles to hydrogen The vehicles vans, there are clear-cut benefits to each. Another key focus is the fleet itself. From For instance, bicycles are invaluable for October 2021 a second ULEZ phase will quickly and efficiently delivering small extend to the inner London area bounded by items in urban areas, while cargo bikes the North and South Circular roads, meaning
With many city centres putting in place clean air zones, logistics companies must take a more critical look at their overall operations and invest in a mix of cleaner vehicles. Patrick Gallagher, CEO of CitySprint Group, explains further Going green is no longer an option, it is a requirement. The Head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently warned that “air pollution is the new tobacco”, with 90 per cent of the world’s population now living in places where pollution exceeds the WHO guidelines. In the UK specifically, air pollution has been labelled a public health emergency. As such, the government and businesses alike are under increasing pressure to boost their focus on sustainability. Given the nature of our business, the logistics industry has an active role to play in lowering emissions to create an environment fit for the future. As the UK’s largest same day courier company, we began taking steps to operate more sustainably long before the announcement of ULEZ and are committed to having an ultra-low emission fleet in central London by 2020. A long term view Looking forward, fleet managers must take a longer-term view of how they operate and invest in a selection of vehicles which use different fuels – from push bikes and cargo bikes to electric and hydrogen vans. In addition to creating a green fleet, businesses must also take a more critical look at their overall operations. But what must they focus on? First and foremost, supply chains must be re-evaluated. For organisations that don’t clean up their acts, ULEZ will be costly. Interestingly
10
DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net/commercial
