Sustainability at Zijderlaan
Sustainable progress. From energy efficiency and a lower footprint to circular choices throughout the entire chain.
Constantly green in motion
As one of our core values, sustainability plays an important role in our overall business operations. We continuously analyse our logistics transport flows and gas, energy and diesel oil consumption (our footprint) so that we can optimise where possible and reduce CO2 emissions. Not only for ourselves, but also for our customers and the environment.
Nowadays, more and more is being asked and expected of every entrepreneur in the areas of sustainability, corporate social responsibility and the circular economy. The Netherlands faces the major challenge of drastically reducing CO2 emissions (by 49% by 2030 compared to 1990). To achieve these ambitious goals, everyone in the logistics chain will have to do their bit to reduce emissions. We are actively committed to improving our footprint as much as possible and helping our customers achieve their environmental goals. We closely follow sustainability developments and technologies and respond quickly to new opportunities.
New build: BREEAM-NL Outstanding
Our new distribution centre in Dinteloord is being built to the highest BREEAM certification level for sustainability.
Sustainability and innovation are very important strategic pillars within Zijderlaan. That is why the building is being constructed to the highest BREEAM certification level for sustainability (Outstanding). This means that the building meets very strict requirements in areas such as energy efficiency, water use, materials, health and well-being of users, and ecology.
energy-neutral workshop
Our new state-of-the-art workshop was completed in the spring of 2022. This building was constructed in accordance with the BENG standard (Nearly Energy Neutral Building). We carry out repairs and maintenance on our lorries and trailers with little to no impact on the environment. We generate our own energy and heat using solar panels and a heat pump. We do not use natural gas. In other words, it is a building with zero electricity consumption!
sustainable vehicle fleet
Our fleet (tractor units) consists of 80% DAF trucks. DAF is introducing a completely new range of trucks that complies with the new European regulations for dimensions and weights. In January 2022, we will add the first new DAF XG to our fleet.
With the new generation of trucks, DAF is achieving lower fuel consumption (up to 10%) and an equal reduction in CO2 emissions. This is achieved, among other things, by the optimal aerodynamic shape. The highly energy-efficient vehicle platform is fully prepared for future powertrains, such as fuel cells and hydrogen combustion engines. The state-of-the-art diesel engines are clean and economical and suitable for the latest generations of biofuels to further reduce CO2 emissions from road transport.
Alternative fuels
For our fleet, we see hydrogen in particular as the emission-free fuel of the future. Naturally, we are also closely monitoring developments in electric trucks for heavy goods transport. Until these innovations are feasible and available on a large scale, we will be talking to interested clients about significantly reducing the CO2 emissions of their transport flows. Alternative fuels such as HVO or Bio GTL lead directly to significant CO2 reductions.
A good example of this is our sustainable partnership with Cefetra (agricultural raw materials supplier). Since 1 January 2022, Cefetra has switched to the fossil-free fuel HVO100 for all freight transported within the United Kingdom. This change immediately results in a CO2 reduction of between 80 and 90%. An important and sustainable development in the logistics energy transition!
solar panels
In 2020, we invested in sustainable solar energy. A total of around 900 solar panels were installed on our warehouses in Stolwijk. These generate the maximum amount of energy possible within the utility connection. We use the solar energy generated for our own power supply when we are in operation. Any energy that is not used immediately is fed back into the electricity grid.
The annual yield is approximately 263,270 kWh. This enabled us to reduce CO2 emissions by 175 tonnes in the first year.
We also have 552 solar panels on the roof of our new premises, built in 2022, which house Zijderlaan Truck- en Trailerservice. These panels supply our entire workshop with electricity. Because the building is also gas-free and uses a heat pump, it is energy-neutral.
Lean & Green
Zijderlaan participates in Lean & Green's CO2 reduction programme. In 2019, we received the first Lean & Green STAR Award for achieving a 24% reduction in CO2 emissions within five years. In 2023, we added a second star. We achieved these goals by, among other things, using our lorries efficiently, resulting in lower CO2 emissions per tonne/km. Every day, our professional planning departments and drivers strive to minimise empty kilometres, drive the most efficient routes and move as economically as possible in traffic.
Of course, we also have the ambition to win a third STAR Award. To this end, we continue to improve our sustainability and work closely with our clients to reduce CO2 emissions.
