Environmental responsibility

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
Transport and logistics have an important role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions

In 2023, domestic transport accounted for 29% of UK greenhouse gas emissions. Heavy goods vehicles were responsible for 18.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, representing 16% of domestic transport emissions.

At CS Ellis Logistics, we recognise both the scale of the challenge and our responsibility to make practical, measurable improvements.

Our environmental approach focuses on:

• Improving energy efficiency across our buildings
• Generating renewable electricity
• Introducing lower-emission vehicle technology where operationally practical
• Improving fleet and journey efficiency
• Reducing waste and the use of disposable materials
• Working with Palletline and our wider supply chain to understand and reduce indirect emissions
• We are taking a considered approach, making changes that provide genuine operational and environmental benefits rather than relying on unsupported environmental claims.

Understanding our environmental impact
Greenhouse gas emissions are generally divided into three categories.

Scope 1: Direct emissions
Scope 1 covers emissions produced directly by activities and assets controlled by CS Ellis Logistics. These include fuel used by our commercial vehicle fleet and fuels used directly within our premises.

Scope 2: Purchased energy
Scope 2 covers indirect emissions associated with the electricity and energy we purchase to operate our warehouses, offices, workshop and electric equipment.
Generating renewable electricity and reducing purchased energy consumption are important parts of our approach to managing these emissions.

Scope 3: Indirect emissions
Scope 3 covers indirect emissions generated throughout our value chain.
These can include emissions associated with subcontracted transport, pallet-network activity, purchased goods and services, waste, employee travel and other activities that are not directly controlled by CS Ellis.
Reducing Scope 3 emissions requires collaboration across customers, suppliers, network partners and the wider logistics sector.

A practical transition
Road freight is essential to the UK economy, but the technology and infrastructure needed to decarbonise heavier commercial vehicles are still developing.

Our fleet strategy therefore considers operational capability, vehicle life, fuel efficiency, maintenance, reliability and whole-life environmental impact.

We continue to assess lower-emission technologies based on whether they are suitable for the distances, payloads and operating conditions required by our customers.

Our first fully electric truck
We have introduced a fully electric DAF LF 19-tonne rigid vehicle into our fleet.

The vehicle has an operating range of approximately 120 miles and is used on work where its range, payload and charging requirements are appropriate

It represents a practical step in understanding how electric commercial vehicles can be incorporated into day-to-day logistics operations.

Introducing electric vehicles is not simply a question of replacing diesel vehicles. Routes, payloads, charging infrastructure, electricity supply and vehicle utilisation must all be considered.

The experience gained from operating the DAF LF will help inform future fleet decisions.

Modernising our fleet
We continue to invest in modern commercial vehicles and progressively replace older units.

Newer Euro VI vehicles provide substantial reductions in regulated pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter when compared with previous vehicle generations.

Fleet investment decisions are based on:

• Fuel and energy efficiency
• Emissions performance
• Operational reliability
• Payload and range
• Driver safety and comfort
• Maintenance requirements
• Whole-life vehicle performance

Vehicle telematics
Vehicle telematics have been used across our fleet since 2010.

The information provided helps us monitor vehicle performance, fuel use, idling, driver behaviour and journey efficiency.

This allows our transport and fleet teams to identify opportunities to improve efficiency without compromising safety, service or legal compliance.

Journey planning and vehicle utilisation
Efficient planning can reduce unnecessary mileage, improve vehicle utilisation and limit empty running.

Our transport team continually reviews routes, delivery schedules and vehicle allocation. We also assess new planning technology and systems that may improve decision-making across the operation.

Our objective is to use the most suitable vehicle for each journey and make the best possible use of available capacity.

Longer semi-trailers
Longer semi-trailers can carry a greater volume of goods than conventional trailers where the freight profile and delivery location are suitable.

Using additional capacity can reduce the number of vehicle movements required to transport the same volume of goods.

We operate five longer semi-trailers and deploy them where they provide a safe and practical operational benefit.

Tyre management
Correctly maintained tyres support vehicle safety, fuel efficiency and tyre life.

Our onsite workshop team routinely inspects vehicle tyres as part of the fleet maintenance programme. This includes monitoring tyre condition, wear and inflation pressure.

We specify established commercial tyre products based on safety, performance, durability and whole-life value

End-of-life tyres are handled by approved recycling and recovery partners rather than being disposed of through general waste.

Reducing indirect emissions through collaboration

CS Ellis Logistics is a founder member of Palletline, the UK’s first dedicated hub-and-spoke palletised freight network.

The pallet-network model consolidates freight from multiple customers and member companies. Rather than every haulier sending individual vehicles to every destination, freight is brought together and transferred through regional and central hubs.

This model can:

• Consolidate freight moving to similar destinations
• Improve vehicle capacity utilisation
• Reduce duplicated journeys
• Reduce unnecessary long-distance vehicle movements
• Provide nationwide coverage through local member depots
• Improve the efficiency of individual pallet deliveries

Palletline reports that vehicles operating within pallet networks achieve average capacity utilisation of approximately 71%, compared with 51% across other road-freight activity.

PALLETLINE’S CARBON-REDUCTION PROGRAMME

Palletline is working with carbon and cost-management specialist Auditel on a network-wide carbon-reduction programme based on verifiable data and measurable results.

Palletline’s completed 2022 carbon footprint recorded:

• Total emissions of 102,162 tCO2e
• Carbon intensity of 0.0239 tCO2e for each pallet handled
• Fleet fuel and associated well-to-tank emissions representing more than 95% of the baseline

The report was independently verified using Greenhouse Gas Protocol and ISO 14064 principles.

Palletline is using the findings to develop a clearer carbon-reduction programme across its hubs and member network.

The continuing work includes:

• Gathering Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 data
• Measuring emissions throughout the pallet journey
• Improving the quality and consistency of network carbon data
• Identifying practical emissions-reduction projects
• Supporting members with carbon measurement
• Developing more accurate carbon information for every pallet handled

Palletline reports that decarbonisation projects have already reduced emissions at its central hub by approximately 20% to 25%.

Energy-management standards

Palletline was the first UK pallet network to achieve ISO 50001 certification for energy management.
It has also maintained ISO 14001 certification for environmental management.
These standards require an organisation to monitor performance, maintain structured management systems and demonstrate continuing improvement.

As a member of the network, CS Ellis supports this collaborative approach to reducing the impact of palletised distribution.