Sustainable Freight

Linfox's GreenFox Iniative

 

 

Linfox, through their GreenFox initiative introduced in 2007 was an early adaptor of environmental initiatives and has been a rewardful exercise resulting in reduced emissions, reduced energy consumption and high levels of praise from the Minister for Environment.

 

Linfox is the largest privately owned trucking and logistics company in the Asia Pacific. Linfox operates over 3.8 million square metres of warehousing and nearly 5,000 vehi-cles across 10 countries, employing more than 19,000 people.

As part of their sustainability strategic plan, Linfox is using the One Planet framework and its 10 core principles to help it work more sustainably. They have set a target of a 50% reduction in the rate of CO2 emissions by 2015 compared to 2007 emissions. Linfox measure their energy use as Energy Intensity which was recorded as 25GJ/1000km in 2007.

To achieve their targets Linfox have concentrated on different projects promising varying results.

Highlights of their activities include:

 

• Conducting electricity audits and implementing an electricity savings program in-cluding installing sensor controlled and energy efficient lighting systems in ware-houses.

•  Using carbon footprint modelling software to optimise the supply chain in order to reduce emissions, by changing transport routes, sources of freight and modes of transport.

•  Implementing a driver training program to teach fuel-efficient driving techniques.

 

By 2009 Linfox had cut carbon emissions by 36%. Up to this point their energy and emissions savings had largely been achieved through driver training and retrofitting of their sites.

 

Since 2009 it has been the remaining 14% emission reductions that proved more chal-lenging after the initial good start. As part of its campaign to reach the 50% target, Linfox’s Eco-Drive program has become a regular part of operations training and has been rolled out on a much larger scale in an attempt to claw their way towards their 50% carbon emissions reduction goal.

 

Linfox reports that 90% of its energy requirement is diesel fuel and has identified driv-er training as a key component of its energy efficiency campaign. In its 2011–12 EEO public report, Linfox reported training 3,187 drivers in Eco Drive. Eco-Drive aims to bring a 4% emissions reduction and will be used to complement the corporation’s defensive driving programs.

 

Additionally the following initiatives were expected to achieve emission reductions around the 1% mark:

 

•  Supply chain improvements

•  Vehicle optimisation

•  Tyre technologies

•  Aerodynamic vehicle design

•  Electrical efficiency

 

　

To further squeeze as much emissions savings as possible out of their operations, Linfox has also formed 16 volun-tary sustainability teams which meet to observe progress and share experiences on a monthly basis.

As of January 2014, Linfox has reduced its carbon emissions by 45% across its operations since 2007 and is currently well positioned to achieve its 50% target by 2015.

 

Potentially surprising to some, Linfox found that the majority of its savings came through improved operator use of equipment and minimising energy use. Despite investing in the latest equipment, its savings from technological im-provements were minimal.

 

Trials of biofuels and Liquefied Natural Gas in Australia continue, including the recent purchase of two LNG fuelled Kenworth trucks in Linfox’s work with BOC, but it will take further refinement of this or future technology before it is either up to the freight task or commercially viable for Linfox on a much wider scale to replace their 5,000 majori-ty diesel run fleet they operate.

 

The Hon. Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Environment has spoken very positively of Linfox’s efforts in reducing emis-sions and often provides their example as a case study of how reducing emissions can have enormous benefits for a company's bottom line.

 

He points to the gains that can be achieved simply through improved practices and staff behavior and utilizes Linfox as an example that should be followed by similar businesses.