Next Stop: Sustainable Logistics
Next Stop: Sustainable Logistics
Transportation is responsible for up to 20 % of global CO2 emissions. In addition to rail and sea transport, CO2 emissions from delivery traffic on our roads are a major factor in making our business more sustainable. It is therefore high time for companies to make their commercial vehicle fleets more climate friendly. This is not a simple conversion but involves complex decisions and long-term investments. In simple terms, it can be summed up in two words: Alternative drives.
As one of the world's leading mill-independent materials distribution and service providers, thyssenkrupp Materials Services has been involved in alternative drive systems for some time. Since January 2024, blue trucks powered by hydrogen (H2) have been plying the roads of North Rhine-Westphalia. Instead of the usual exhaust fumes, the H2 engines emit only water vapor. This is how it works: Fuel cells convert the hydrogen into electricity, so there are no direct emissions. And that really makes a difference: Switching from diesel to hydrogen can save about 40 tons of CO2 per truck per year. The only thing that has to be considered is the need for H2 filling stations along the route. Nicolas Neuwirth, CEO of thyssenkrupp Plastics, sees this as feasible: “Düsseldorf and the surrounding area is the ideal location for the new vehicles, as the accessibility of the nearby H2 filling stations is guaranteed. I am very pleased that with our logistics partner ep-Group we have a competent and capable partner at our side for many years to make sustainable transportation possible.”
More climate-friendly growth is also taking place in the UK: In June 2024, thyssenkrupp Materials UK expanded its sustainable transportation fleet with three trucks that run on hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO). Produced entirely from renewable resources, HVO fuel produces up to 95 % less CO2 emissions than conventional diesel, is extremely durable, biodegradable and can be seamlessly integrated into existing vehicles without the need for special engines. Sounds like an all-inclusive package, doesn't it? In any case, it is currently the optimal solution for the UK's needs, which is why the entire fleet will be converted to HVO in the long term.
In the USA, too, “bio” rolls on ten wheels. The focus here is on renewable energies. A large part of the truck fleet in California already runs on the renewable biodiesel R99, which, like HVO, can be used without any additional measures on the engine and enables considerable CO2 savings. In addition, other trucks in North America run on biogas produced from organic waste. This has not only environmental but also economic benefits: On the one hand, it reduces emissions during combustion. On the other hand, it is economical due to low fuel costs and the use of the existing natural gas infrastructure. And all good things come in threes: in addition to R99 and biogas, hybrid trucks are also in use, which combine combustion engines with electric drives and offer more flexibility in terms of range and infrastructure.
thyssenkrupp Materials Services takes a broad approach to finding the best solutions for the respective conditions. We use a variety of technologies, which we test in pilot projects and adapt to the respective infrastructure. The aim is to sustainably reduce our own CO2 emissions and those of our customers. This is reflected in our “BEYOND” strategy, which is based on international ESG standards and also actively supports our customers in achieving their climate goals. By 2030, we aim to work climate neutral.