After five years of a strategic partnership between transportation and logistics service provider DB Schenker and air freight specialist Lufthansa Cargo, both companies are already well over half way towards achieving their objective, having saved more than 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide between them at this stage. Another 10,000 tonnes should follow by 2020. This goal has been endorsed by the Carbon Reduction Agreement entered into by the partners last year.
“As a logistics service provider, we bear a particular responsibility when it comes to planning and implementing our emissions-intensive transports. Some 40 percent of all direct and indirect CO2 emissions at DB Schenker result from air cargo. Therefore, it was and is important to us that we engage in environmental protection together with Lufthansa Cargo and achieve our climate protection goals”, said Andrea Dorothea Schön, who is responsible for climate protection and CO2 controlling at DB Schenker.
According to Bettina Jansen, Lufthansa Cargo’s Head of Environmental Management, Lufthansa Cargo’s mixed freighter fleet only consumes 1.89 litres of fuel on average to transport 100 kg a distance of 100 km. “We are putting in an enormous effort to continuously reduce our fleet’s fuel consumption. Our five new Boeing 777Fs are the most efficient freighters in their class. In addition to this, we are using particularly lightweight containers, polishing even our engine blades for maximum efficiency and driving the digitalization of air cargo documents together with our partners. We are a pioneer in many areas and our innovations will facilitate even further reductions in weight and consumption.”
“Leading air freight companies such as Lufthansa Cargo are playing a pivotal role in our improved environmental performance. Transparent emissions reporting is one key aspect. A sustainable, long-term business relationship is based on mutual trust and working in a spirit of partnership to achieve quality and environmental goals. The agreements are milestones as they allow us to incorporate sustainability aspects into business relationships”, said Andrea Dorothea Schön.
DB Schenker is a leader in air cargo, and is ranked third in the global market. In 2015, DB Schenker handled over one million tonnes of air cargo for its customers. Its air cargo network covers 130 countries worldwide with around 700 DB Schenker locations.
Lufthansa Cargo AG ranks with a transport volume of around 1.6 million tonnes of freight and mail, as well as 8.4 billion revenue tonne-kilometres in 2015, among the world’s leading companies involved in the transport of air cargo, with around 300 destinations in more than 100 countries.
(Source: Deutsche Bahn)
