Social Responsibility Report 2006
Driving Clean
Reducing our impact on the environment
As a transport company, we operate a large number of vehicles, aircraft and buildings so that we inevitably produce emissions. We have made it our aim to invest in mitigating our impact on the environment. Environmental impact is also a prime concern of our stakeholders. One of our initiatives in this respect is a project known as Driving Clean, which is over time enabling a sustainable reduction in our vehicular emissions, specifically particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and CO2. Driving Clean includes four main projects: cleaning up our existing fleet, purchases related to our new fleet, investigating possibilities for our future fleet and efforts with our partner the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).
Our existing fleet
We continue our efforts with the Dutch government to test retrofitting our existing vehicles with diesel particulate filters. The overall environmental impact is significant, with a possible 50% reduction in particulate matter emissions for each vehicle that we fit with a filter. The project has faced tough challenges, however, regarding both availability of the filters as very few manufacturers offered retrofit filters at the start-up, the loss of guarantee from car manufacturers was a point of discussion and the filters are less effective than those fitted in the factory.
Frank Baartmans, Operations Manager SU Transport, Mail Netherlands: “There are several ways to change the emissions from a combustion engine ᾢ you can change the fuel, you can improve the internal combustion or you can convert the combustion products. Particulate filters do the latter through oxidation. The main issues we have faced are with the retrofitted filters filling up as they do not reach a high-enough temperature. We are working on the issue, however, together with SenterNovem, part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. We started measurements on 15 vehicles in March 2006. The true test will come this winter after which we will be in a better position to weigh up the viability of the project.”
New fleet
In line with our Driving Clean objectives, we have been investing heavily in new technology. The Euro standards set standards for vehicular emissions. Euro 5 relates to large transporters such as lorries. Beyond compliance, we are skipping Euro 4 for our lorries and have started investing directly in Euro 5-compliant technology, which will be compulsory in November 2009.
Jeroen Don, TNT Post Fleet Coordinator Transport: “Euro 5 is a strict standard as it demands new engines and a new type of catalyst. This so-called SCR catalyst uses urea (also known as AdBlue) in lorries’ exhausts to reduce NOx emissions and particulate matter by as much as 20% and 80% respectively. According to the manufacturer, fuel consumption is also reduced. For the technology to be effective, the AdBlue has to be added repeatedly to TNT’s new vehicles via dedicated filling stations. We have therefore built six of these mini-bulk filling stations at each of TNT’s letter sorting centres. In 2006, we purchased 165 new Euro 5-compliant lorries for TNT Post Transport in the Netherlands.”
Smaller vehicles, for which the Euro 5 standard has not yet been established, are subject to the new Euro 4 standard as of November 2006. For all our new purchases in this class, TNT is making the additional investment of purchasing vehicles with in-built particulate filter.
Biodiesel pilot in Amsterdam
Biodiesel vehicles produce less particulate matter and less CO2 than standard diesels. While there are a number of options for fuelling them TNT research pointed to the use of rapeseed oil, easily available at selected wholesalers in Europe. While its use is limited to smaller, diesel vehicles, it also offers numerous benefits in addition to the reduced emissions: the oil can be used directly in existing diesel engines, users need not apply for environmental permits and accidental spillage does not harm the environment. On the downside, the oil is currently costlier than standard diesel.
TNT Post Production currently has 136 vehicles operating with soot filters. In the first quarter of 2007, another 222 vehicles will be added to the fleet, with a further 554 expected as the year progresses.
Future fleet
In this initiative, we are investigating and obtaining experience with alternative fuels and technologies through a wide range of pilots. In addition to the two mentioned below, we are also investigating the use of hybrid vehicles in Australia and are using compressed natural gas (CNG) in Berlin.
Gerrit Mastenbroek, Managing Director TNT Post Parcel Service: “We make some 9,000 deliveries in Amsterdam city centre each day. For the last two years, we have investigated our options for reducing our emission impact in line with the Driving Clean objectives. We now have some 53 vehicles running on rapeseed oil and have created our own filling station in Amsterdam. With rapeseed, we have reduced our CO2 and particulate emissions by 50% and 70% respectively. Should the pilot be successful, we plan to expand with an additional 20 vans next year. Operational costs are currently higher than for standard diesel vehicles due to the higher fuel costs. We are, however, trying to persuade the government that reducing taxation on biodiesel would stimulate this environmentally-friendlier form of transportation.”
Electric vehicle in London
On December 5, TNT unveiled its first high performance 7.5-tonne zero emission electric vehicle in London. Following detailed research and analysis into its environmental and cost benefits, TNT has purchased the first vehicle in its class to compete with its diesel equivalents without the polluting effects. Another important feature is that almost the entire truck is recyclable.
Steve Davis, TNT National Engineering Manager: “The potential of these new vehicles cannot be stressed enough. In addition to the obvious benefits of zero emission impact, we have a projected increase of 50% in the truck’s economic lifecycle and far fewer maintenance costs (up to 60%) as it has no internal combustion engine, no gearbox, doesn’t need antifreeze, etc. They should also be safer, as drivers have an easier ride. With no gear changes, drivers can concentrate on their driving more fully and will experience less fatigue. Of course, break-downs are a problem at the moment, but effective management will eliminate that issue. It’s really exciting. Purchase costs are high as things stand, but if our 12-month performance and durability pilot in London is successful, who knows, we may have as many as 2,000 electric vehicles soon, which is sure to bring the price down. This may well be a huge step forwards in corporate delivery.”
United Nations Environmental Programme cooperation
Together with the United Nations Environmental Programme, or UNEP, we are currently developing a tool and strategy that will allow our fleet managers around the world to generate action plans for improving the environmental performance of their fleets. In addition to benefiting the environment, this will also raise awareness for climate change and air pollution. TNT fleet managers will receive a workshop and TNT will make the tool available to the community.
A pilot was initiated in Turkey in November 2006. In this pilot, two hybrid vehicles are being tested for six months on purchasing costs, fuel costs and emission rates. In addition, five diesel vehicles fitted with particulate filters will be purchased and subjected to the same tests. Future fleet composition will be based on the results of these tests. Turgut Yildiz, Country General Manager Turkey: “The benefits of this project are clear. Yet our main target is to set an example for all companies in the delivery and logistics sector. Although we have only a small fleet with some 300 vehicles, this first step could serve as an example for all. We would like also to inspire local municipalities and universities through the Turkish Business Council for Sustainable Development of which TNT is a member. Last but not least, we hope to share the results with all of TNT as future best practice.”