Through the following projects and initiatives, Ziegler addresses 6 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Although we all have a responsibility to work together to reduce emissions and improve the environment, logistics companies can play an especially vital role by using eco-friendly transportation solutions.
As sustainable technologies become more readily available for our industry, Ziegler Group is determined to be a leader in demonstrating the benefits of sustainable transport practices and their benefits globally.
Here are some examples of how Ziegler Group is making our transport more ‘greener’.
Summarising many of the initiatives that the company has undertaken in pursuit of our commitments to reducing our ecological footprint.
The head office in Brussels is a passive building with 1070 solar panels to generate electricity, LED lighting with motion detectors for auto on/off, and geothermal climate control in the offices.
On-site sanitation areas and toilets are supplied with water via two rainwater recovery tanks, each with a capacity of 20,000 litres, reducing our local demands for public water supply.
As the headquarters lies next to the Brussels Maritime Canal, two heat pumps use the water from the canal to provide both heating and air conditioning via heat exchangers. This method of natural heat exchange reduces overall energy consumption, while still providing for each office to set its own comfortable temperature setting.
Lighting optimisation and LED lights have been installed at most Zieger warehouses in France and Belgium, and several more are undergoing the transition to more efficient lighting.
Ziegler locations in London, Aubange, Rekkem, Zaventem, Brussels, and Aachen have been fitted with several thousand individual panels, and new Ziegler facilities will follow suit.
In the 15 countries where we are present, all new Ziegler buildings are designed and constructed with the highest thermal comfort and low energy requirements using the latest environmentally-friendly technologies.
Eco-driving training and optimisation software is helping our fleet of trucks to operate more efficiently. The trucking fleet is transitioning to Euro 6 trucks to comply with regulations and reduce emissions.
We require that all our worldwide partners and subcontractors use vehicles that meet or surpass Euro 6 engine standards.
Ziegler Belgium has joined the Air France KLM Martinair Cargo SAF programme [learn more], which contributes to the production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
SAF is produced from sustainable feedstocks (like waste from homes and businesses) and is very similar in its chemistry to traditional fossil jet fuel. Using it gives a reduction of up to 80% in carbon emissions over the lifecycle of the fuel compared to the traditional jet fuel it replaces.
With city centres throughout Belgium being increasingly restricted to larger vehicles, Cargo Bikes are the future for urban last-mile deliveries.
Ziegler’s CargoBike XXL is a large bicycle used to deliver parcels and pallets in Brussels, using a tarped trailer to transport and protect goods. It can easily access narrow restricted streets that are off-limits to larger trucks and produces zero emissions.
As an alternative to road and sea transport, Ziegler promotes the use of rail transport – the most ecologically efficient of all transport methods. Customers can use Ziegler’s rail options throughout Europe and also when transporting goods from China to Europe.
Use of waterways in Europe is another transport method that certain regions can use to reduce reliance on transport methods that produce more emissions. Ziegler promotes this solution to French, Belgian and Swiss customers that are positioned to take advantage of this very low impact solution.
We offer subsidised bike rentals for our employees, encouraging and incentivising them to reduce their use of motor vehicles to get to work, and improving their own health and well-being.
After a feasibility study was conducted by BeeOdiversity, beehives have been placed at Ziegler Group’s facility in Laval, France to encourage bee population growth and for honey production. The two hives are maintained and checked on a regular schedule by BeeOdiversity.
Honey is harvested twice annually (once in spring and once in fall), and BeeOdiversity handles that process through to bottling the honey in Ziegler-branded jars. The honey jars will make for truly unique, meaningful gifts and awards.
FORWARD Belgium (the Belgian Freight Forwarding Association) launched an awards programme called “FORWARD Goals for Sustainable Development” to encourage its members to invest in green and sustainable solutions and to contribute to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations.
Ziegler won the Gold “FORWARD Goals for Sustainable Development” label, but also received a second special “Sustainability Award” for our Cargo Bike and innovative city logistics solutions.