Skip to main content

Excessive packaging causes unnecessary road traffic

Bernhard Simon, chief executive of Dachser, a Germany-headquartered European logistic provider, says he believes that one in five truck journeys would not be necessary if superfluous packaging was avoided. This could reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by up to eight million tons he believes. In 2005 CO2 emissions from road cargo transport in Germany amounted to 36.7 million tons and the Federal Environment Agency has forecast emissions to rise to 44.4 million tons by 2020.
May 17, 2012 Read time: 1 min
Bernhard Simon, chief executive of 5597 Dachser, a Germany-headquartered European logistic provider, says he believes that one in five truck journeys would not be necessary if superfluous packaging was avoided. This could reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by up to eight million tons he believes. In 2005 CO2 emissions from road cargo transport in Germany amounted to 36.7 million tons and the 5598 Federal Environment Agency has forecast emissions to rise to 44.4 million tons by 2020.

Julia Wolf, logistics professor at the European Business School in Wiesbaden, argues that transport costs are too low. She says that transport costs account for 15 per cent of the price of a product on average, and 20 per cent of the transport costs depends on the road carrier's utilisation rate. The more links a distribution chain consist of, the greater is the likelihood of excessive packaging.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Transition time for mobility in Hamburg
    June 11, 2025
    The City of Hamburg – host of the UITP Summit 2025 – has been working with PTV Group to make the most of technology to enhance urban mobility, and reach climate goals…
  • NGV Network calls on new metro mayors to tackle air pollution
    May 18, 2017
    The Natural Gas Vehicle Network (NGVN) has called on the newly elected mayors of UK combined authorities to make tackling air pollution central to their work in the coming three years. It says the new mayors in the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, the Tees Valley, the West of England and Cambridgeshire could play a vital role in this effort by bringing various stakeholders together with a common goal: improving their regions’ air for the good of all of their residents. Recognisi
  • NGV Network calls on new metro mayors to tackle air pollution
    May 18, 2017
    The Natural Gas Vehicle Network (NGVN) has called on the newly elected mayors of UK combined authorities to make tackling air pollution central to their work in the coming three years. It says the new mayors in the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, the Tees Valley, the West of England and Cambridgeshire could play a vital role in this effort by bringing various stakeholders together with a common goal: improving their regions’ air for the good of all of their residents. Recognisi
  • TomTom launches toll reporting
    November 20, 2013
    TomTom Business Solutions has launched new road toll reporting functionality for its fleet management platform, providing transport companies with greater cost transparency for all European routes. Webfleet truck toll reporting provides a real-time breakdown of the toll costs incurred for each trip, allowing transport companies to better manage expenses and provide customers with transparent invoices.