Leading global freight forwarding, supply chain services and technology company EV Cargo had its achievements in building a sustainable and environmentally-aware business rewarded at the UK logistics industry’s most prestigious event, after winning the Sustainable Transport category at the Motor Transport Awards.
Its sector-leading efforts to decarbonise supply chains, to work towards carbon neutrality and to deliver a programme of people-focused initiatives to build a sustainable business, were acknowledged by judges as being the best they had seen.
As one of the company’s three core values, sustainability in all its forms guides EV Cargo’s global operations and it recently became the first logistics company in the UK to have its decarbonisation targets validated and approved by the Science Based Targets initiative.
EV Cargo is aiming to be carbon neutral across scope 1 and 2 by 2030 and in 2022 cut its overall emissions by 29.4%, or 159,000 tCO2e.
Taking a ‘fewer miles and friendlier miles’ approach, it pioneered initiatives to reduce emissions across customer supply chains, including switching over 5 million delivery km from traditional diesel to HVO fuel, reducing emissions in associated vehicles by 90%.
EV Cargo’s Palletforce LTL network model offers huge environmental benefits, helping avoid an estimated 129,575 tCO2e per year while co-loading sea freight shipments and twinning 20ft containers saved 13,155 tCO2e.
The company’s ONE EV Cargo technology stack also helps leverage real-time delivery data, analysing route planning and using AI neural learning to help reduce engine idling, delivery miles, fuel use and emissions.
EV Cargo is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and its policies are guided by its membership of the UN Global Compact. It carried out a range of engagement initiatives, including Women Forward Lean in Circle, and the number of females in senior management positions increased during the year. Over 900 hours of diversity training were delivered to senior managers.
The Sustainable Transport category is about developing a sustainable business model, operationally, financially and environmentally. EV Cargo’s work around mental health and employee wellbeing, recruitment, retention, staff development and training also played a critical role in securing the accolade.
Its safety achievements included reducing the number of accidents, improving incident reporting, winning a Merit at the 2023 International Safety Awards, and Palletforce collecting a RoSPA Gold award for the 14th consecutive year.
Virginia Alzina, EV Cargo Chief Sustainability Officer, said: “We are delighted that EV Cargo has once again been recognised and rewarded for the significant progress we have made towards emissions reduction and overall sustainability. “EV Cargo is building a reputation as one of the best and most forward-thinking logistics operators, with our values of growth, innovation and sustainability at the heart of everything we do. Not only are we driving decarbonisation of our customer supply chains but we have made great strides in training, recruitment, diversity, skills and safety – all attributes which contribute to a sustainable transport business.”
