CEVA Logistics tackles decarbonisation
01 / 03 / 2023
Photo: CEVA Logistics
CEVA Logistics aims to transition all its contract logistics and freight warehouses to low-carbon electricity by 2025.
The commitment will rely on a combination of purchasing low-carbon electricity (renewable and nuclear) from local utility providers and increasing its own production of electricity using rooftop solar panels, which the French logistics company will triple by the end of 2025.
Additionally, CEVA Logistics expects to reach 100% LED lighting in its warehousing facilities by the end of 2023.
CEVA Logistics, owned by CMA CGM Group, finished 2022 with LED lighting in approximately 80% of its contract logistics warehouses.
The company expects to reach 100% by the end of 2023 as part of its multimillion-dollar energy efficiency investments.
In addition to the lighting initiative, the company is implementing a range of heating and cooling projects to reduce its energy consumption.
CEVA is also increasing the size of its lithium-ion material handling equipment (MHE) fleet. The global logistics provider expects its global fleet to reach a 40% level in 2023 of eco-MHE (lithium-ion and gel battery units).
Beyond the clear emissions savings in move away from diesel- or LPG-powered combustion MHE, the company said it is also seeing an average 16% emissions reduction during the charging process when switching from a lead-acid battery MHE to more eco-friendly lithium-ion batteries.
Through a joint investment with real estate partners of approximately $180m, CEVA plans to triple the surface area of solar panels covering the roofs of its contract logistics warehouses around the world.
By the end of 2025, the company expects to have approximately 1.8m sq m of solar panels installed at its facilities.
With this coverage area, the company estimates it will generate approximately 135,000 MWH per year.
CEVA said it leverages the strength of its global network by applying lessons learned between operations in different countries and continents.
In the UK, CEVA is already operating on 100% low-carbon electricity, while operations in Benelux produce more electricity than they consume.
As newer markets expand, renewable and low-carbon electricity will play a critical role in supporting those operations, said the company.
CEVA opened a new zero-emission warehouse in Bogota, Colombia, in 2022.
Mathieu Friedberg, chief executive, CEVA Logistics, said: “The global logistics industry must find better ways to operate and ultimately reduce its impact on the planet from carbon emissions and energy consumption.
“These investments are the right thing to do, and they also make good business sense. We will continue acting to build a more sustainable model through initiatives like these in our contract logistics operations and across our product lines in air, ocean, ground and finished vehicles.”
