Measures to reduce GLS Italy impact
GLS Italy has been actively seeking and implementing ways to reduce its environmental impact. A commitment it shares with local transport partners.
-
Usage of renewable energy
We are signing more and more contracts for the purchase of electricity from renewable sources. -
Replacing of the fossil-fueld fleet with low-and zero-emission vehicles[1]. Using of alternative fuels
In cooperation with our transport partners, we are gradually replacing the fleet towards zero- & low-emission delivery vehicles[1]. Different electric vehicles are used within the Group in Italy, such as electric vans, bikes and trucks. In addition, we also have vehicles that run on alternative fuels, such as HVO and LNG. -
Future-proofing our buildings
Modernising our buildings e.g. installing solar systems and installing charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. Moreover all our warehouses are equipped with LED lighting and new buildings, such as Sordio International Hub, Padova Hub and Parma Depot have BREEAM Certification, a system for rating the environmental performance of buildings, infrastructure and master planning projects that takes into account a wide range of criteria (including energy, water, waste, pollution, transport, materials, health and well-being, management, land use and ecology, innovation)[2]. -
Implementing alternative parcel delivery solutions
Alternative delivery options such as the use of GLS Points allow multiple parcels to be delivered to a single location, reducing the number of delivery tours, thereby reducing carbon emissions[3].
Annual calculation of our CO2 impact
Following the introduction of measures to reduce GLS Italy's impact on the environment, we monitor our progress through an annual calculation of our carbon footprint.
GLS Italy Compensation Programme
In addition to reducing carbon emissions, GLS Italy also invests in climate protection projects that have positive environmental effects outside of its supply chain. Although these projects do not have a direct impact on GLS’s carbon footprint, they nevertheless contribute positively to global climate and social efforts in several areas, such as the preservation of biodiversity, the expansion of local infrastructure (e.g.for energy production from renewable sources) and job creation.
GLS Italy works with ClimatePartner (Munich, Germany) on multiple certified climate protection projects to voluntarily offset carbon emissions caused by the transportation of parcels and freight shipments, as well as buildings and business travel. The climate protection projects we support, through GLS Group, help protect rainforests in Brazil and Peru and to promote the spread of energy from renewable sources in India. In addition, each project contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations.
For further information on the compensation programme, please click here .
Forest Protection in Madre de Dios, Peru
Madre de Dios is an area of the Peruvian Amazon with some of the highest biodiversity in the world. It is also under threat from the Transamazônica road project and deforestation for agriculture. We support a project that protects an area of 100,000 hectares while working with the local population to help manage the land sustainably. The project is VCS CCBS Gold Level certified.
Forest Protection in Pacajá, Brazil
The project in the Brazilian Amazon covers an area of 148,000 hectares. To avoid the deforestation of native forests, the project promotes and supports the native population in using sustainable agroforestry techniques and provides them with land use rights in return for their contribution to environmental conservation. In addition, villagers are trained as monitoring personnel working in patrol teams to ensure the project area is monitored. The project is VCS CCBS certified.
Solar energy in Bhadla, India
By generating 832,550 MWh of electricity each year from solar energy, the GS VER -certified project contributes to increasing the share of energy from renewable sources in India’s electricity mix and to improving the national energy supply. It further supports infrastructure development in the region, as roads are expanded and improved. This project creates permanent jobs with an above-average income in the region.
Wind energy in Gadhsisa, India
This project generates energy with 143 wind turbines, which corresponds to a total production capacity of 300 MW. It contributes to environmental protection, because without the wind power plant, the same amount of energy would have been produced by thermal/fossil fuel power plants. In addition, the project contributes to sustainable development of the region by creating jobs and providing basic infrastructure and services to local schools, as well as sports facilities to clients. The project is GS VER certified.
Wind energy in Bhatel, India
The Indian state of Gujarat is heavily agricultural, and its energy production is dominated by fossil fuels. We support a wind energy project that not only reduces the state’s dependence on fossil fuels but also achieves several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including improving the quality of life of locals. A stable energy supply and long-term employment in an area dominated by short-term contracts make in fact a local improvement, whilst the project itself saves around 167,000 tonnes of CO2 every year by replacing energy generated from fossil fuels with wind power. The project is GS VER certified.
Solar energy in Jodhpur, India
Jodhpur, in the Indian state of Rajasthan, is a growing city of over 1.5 million people. Due to its desert location, it’s well-placed to supply electricity to its businesses through solar power plants. The project resulted in the construction of a solar plant that covers 140 hectares of land and supplies 433,620 MWh of clean energy to the grid annually. That saves an average of 408,420 tonnes of CO2 every year that would have been the case if fossil fuels had been used for energy production. The project is GS VER certified.
Wind energy in Naranpar, India
The project involves the installation of 120 turbines with a total production capacity of 252 MW generating 556,508 MWh per year for the Indian energy grid. This amount of electricity would otherwise have been produced using fossil fuels and, therefore, the installation of the wind farm increases the amount of energy from renewable sources available, helping to close the region's energy gap. Further, the wind power project promotes sustainable development through new long-term employment opportunities, combined with various training sessions for all employees of the wind farm.
Supporting documents
To find out more about our Group commitment on climate protection, download “GLS Group Environmental Standard” document.
Other local initiatives supported by GLS Italy
Footnotes
[1] This means vehicles that during operation create either lower emissions than diesel- and gasoline-powered vehicles (e.g. LPG, CNG or LNG vehicles) or no emissions (e.g. electric vehicles).
[2] BREEAM is a sustainability rating system developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in the United Kingdom in 1990. It is designed to evaluate the environmental performance of both new and existing buildings, infrastructures, and master planning projects on a wide range of criteria. These criteria encompass ten categories including energy, water, waste, pollution, transport, materials, health and well-being, management, land use and ecology, and innovation. The system measures a building's environmental impact by assessing its performance in these categories, which are weighted according to their environmental significance. To achieve certification, a building must meet certain standards and earn a sufficient score across all relevant categories. BREEAM aims to promote buildings that are environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable, enhancing the well-being of the people who live and work in them while minimizing their environmental impact. BREEAM certification process encourages developers, designers, and building owners to consider sustainability from the earliest stages of the design process, leading to the construction and operation of buildings that contribute positively to their environment.
[3] Source: Lo Shopping Online è più Sostenibile: l’Impatto Ambientale degli Acquisti via eCommerce è inferiore del 75% rispetto a quello in Negozio , a study conducted by Consorzio Netcomm, the Italian Digital Hub for the Evolution of Business to Digital Consumers Worldwide.