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At GLS, we care about our effect on the world around us. Each parcel and its related logistics and transport processes have an impact on natural resources and cause carbon emissions. We want to continue our mission in connecting people cross-border whilst protecting the environment for future generations. Therefore, climate and environmental protection are central components of our sustainability efforts.
With our GLS Climate Protect strategy, we focus on avoidance and compensation of greenhouse gas emissions and, furthermore, compensate CO2-emissions additionally and voluntarily reduce the amount of carbon emissions caused by the transportation of parcels, business travel and the use of buildings by investing in various certified climate protection projects in cooperation with ClimatePartner .
At the end of 2023, GLS Group committed to setting near-term and long-term science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its operations in line with the Science Based Targets initiative. Read more about our commitment here .
*Compensation of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from parcel shipping by investing into climate protection projects. More information here .
We are comitted in creating an organization that meets all the needs of the world around us. Our goal is to drive forward our expansion of eVans and make the last mile sustainable. Not only do we owe this to future generations, it is genuinely the least we can do for them.
Christian Schöninger, Managing Director at GLS Austria
We explicitly consider ecological and social aspects in all new buildings, replacements and extensions. For environmentally friendly equipment, we invest on a broad scale in modern, environmentally friendly techniques. The use of photovoltaics, recyclable building materials, heat pumps as well as efficient lighting technology and thermally insulated buildings play an important role. In all GLS Austria locations we use 100% green electricity from renewable energy sources.
We aim to gradually switch the entire fleet to zero-emission and low-emission vehicles* – our transport partners’ fleet as well as our own company car fleet.
Moreover, we establish the necessary charging infrastructure in our depots for the continuous electric vehicles transition.
*This means vehicles that during operation create either significantly lower emissions than diesel- and gasoline-powered vehicles (e.g. HVO 100 vehicles) or no emissions (e.g. electric or hydrogen vehicles).
In order to optimize transport processes in city logistics and to promote emission-free delivery in city centers, we are setting up micro depots. From here, emission-free e-vehicles go on delivery tours. This saves transport routes, reduces noise and thus protects people and the environment.
To improve operating processes and transport routes, we count on state-of-the-art, IT-assisted planning instruments. This is how we manage to systematically optimize our transport routes and thus to avoid greenhouse gas emissions.
The discrepancy between economic and climate-friendly decisions often seems insurmountable, nevertheless is essential to meet both requirements equally, as it is the only way to achive sustainability and invest in the future of our planet.
Eberhard Thiele, Director Sales & Marketing
We rely on local power generation and therefore use the roofs of our depots for photovoltaic systems.
The use of sunligth not only enables us to be as self-sufficient as possible, but furthermore also reduces our CO2 footprint.
With the gradual conversion to emission-free & low-emission vehicles*, we are continuing to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of our fleet.
For sustainable and efficient delivery, we are increasingly using eBikes and eScooters in larger cities.
Since September 1, 2024, GLS Austria, together with 31 other companies, has joined an initiative of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and has since delivered all parcels in the first and second districts of Vienna emission-free as part of the “Zero Emission Transport” project.
*These are vehicles that either produce significantly lower emissions than diesel and petrol vehicles (e.g. HVO 100 vehicles) or no emissions (e.g. electric or hydrogen vehicles).
Innovative and smart solutions as well as the continuous expansion of our ParcelShop and ParcelBox network for additional delivery options and the use of micro-depots help us to make parcel logistics even more efficient and sustainable on the last mile.
A forward-looking infrastructure and emission-free & low-emission vehicle fleet* are one thing, sustainable use of resources is another.
The entire GLS workforce has actively commited itself to energy-saving behaviour and sustainabe use of resources.
Tips and tricks for saving energy and the sustainable use of resources are implemented both in offices and in all our depots.
*These are vehicles that either produce significantly lower emissions than diesel and petrol vehicles (e.g. HVO 100 vehicles) or no emissions (e.g. electric or hydrogen vehicles).
As a global parcel service, we are fully aware of our responsibility towards environment and society. Accordingly, wherever possible and sensible, we pay attention to environmental compatibility and future orientation when making purchases, be it in the area of facility management or company vehicles. We will continue to do so to create sustainable conditions for the future.
Clemens Prast, Director Finance & Administration at GLS Austria
Despsite all efforts, an emission-free parcel logistics unfortunately can't be implemented at this point of time. For this reason, we have chosen four certified and internationally recognized climate projects in which we invest.
We voluntary offset the carbon emissions generated by transportation of parcels and freight shipments by participating GLS companies, and buildings and business travel of such companies through our cooperation with ClimatePartner . Click here or further information.
This project in Guttigoli village, India, generates clean and affordable power from a 100 MW solar plant for the Indian national grid, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and preventing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel based thermal power stations.
Beyond clean electricity, the project supports sustainable development in local communities by providing books, furniture, and other infrastructure to underfunded schools. It also organizes music and talent events to promote extracurricular development for school children.
This project generates energy with 143 wind turbines, which corresponds to a total capacity of 300 MW. It contributes to climate protection, as fossil fuel power plants would have otherwise generated the amount of energy. In addition, the region's sustainable development is supported through the creation of jobs in conjunction with training and the promotion of education, such as the opportunity for students to attend local schools. The project is GS VER certified .
In Ghana, many families traditionally cook with wood or charcoal on inefficient "Coal Pots". High fuel consumption is one of the main causes of deforestation. In addition, charcoal is produced in a simple and emission-intensive way. The Gyapa Improved Cookstove Project replaces these with efficient Gyapa stoves, which absorb and store heat better through ceramic cladding, resulting in 50-60% less fuel consumption and reduced cooking time.
The project also improves air quality in homes, benefiting women and children in particular, and supports local manufacturing. Over 835,000 stoves have been sold, improving the lives of more than 4 million people in Ghana.
With a long coastline of more than 3,260 km, Vietnam has great potential for generating renewable energy through its seas and wind. The Nhon Hoa 2 Wind Power Project in Gia Lai aims to harness this potential by generating renewable energy through wind power.
The project has a total installed capacity of 50 MW, consisting of 10 wind turbines of 4.2 MW capacity and two wind turbines of 4 MW capacity, all connected to the national grid. This will partially substitute the electricity currently evacuated into the grid by the thermal power plants, thus contributing to an overall sustainable development of the region on social, environmental and economic levels.
Climate neutral are companies, processes and products whose upstream and downstream greenhouse gas emissions have been calculated according to recognized standards and norms and have been avoided through reduction measures or compensated for through additional climate protection projects elsewhere. Climate compensation is an important component of holistic climate protection next to the avoidance and reduction of negative environmental impacts.
The upstream and downstream greenhouse gas emissions generated by the parcel transport, business travel and the use of buildings of GLS Austria are compensated through certified climate protection projects in cooperation with our compensation partner ClimatePartner. In doing so, we compensate all greenhouse gas emissions "well-to-wheel" - from generation to consumption - for transport and service vehicles, flights, heating and water, paper and waste, at all of our locations.
In accordance with industry standards (VCS/CCB/GS VER standard) we currently support forest conservation projects and projects to promote the expansion of renewable solar and wind energy.
You will find a precise definition of the standards just mentioned in the next question.
The supported projects meet the Gold Standard (GS) or Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) in conjunction with the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS).
GS (developed by WWF and other environmental organizations) and VCS (developed by the non-governmental organization VERRA) are standards for voluntary emissions trading. The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) is a widely recognized global standard for certifying greenhouse gas emissions reduction and removal projects and provides a framework to ensure the accuracy, transparency, and credibility of carbon offset projects, which generate carbon credits or carbon reductions (VERs).
The Gold Standard (GS) is another internationally recognized standard for certifying carbon offset projects. What sets it apart is its strong focus on sustainability and co-benefits, such as social and environmental impacts in addition to emissions reductions. Projects certified under the Gold Standard adhere to rigorous criteria, making them not only carbon-neutral but also contributing positively to sustainable development and environmental protection.
Climate protection projects require four criteria: Additionality, no double counting, permanent savings and regular independent verification.
The criteria of additionality is not met for many projects in the EU because various funding programmes already cover the economic aspects of e.g. the expansion of renewable energies.
Double counting can only be avoided if it is ensured that the savings of greenhouse gas emissions achieved by a project are not already counted elsewhere. Savings achieved in the EU are usually directly accounted towards a country's national greenhouse gas balance and thus only contribute to achieving the climate targets of the respective country and the EU.
These are vehicles that either produce significantly lower emissions than diesel and petrol vehicles (e.g. HVO 100 vehicles) or no emissions (e.g. electric or hydrogen vehicles).
HVO
HVO is the abbreviation for Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil. HVO is produced from vegetable oil waste and residue, these oils are transformed into a fuel by a chemical process called hydrodesulfurization.
HVO is almost identical to Diesel fuel, and it can be used without changes to Diesel vehicles.
A distinction is made based on the purity of the alternative fuel. E.g., HVO100 consists of 100% HVO, whereas HVO50 consists of 50% HVO and 50% Diesel fuel.
HVO 100
A distinction is made based on the purity of the alternative fuel. E.g., HVO100 consists of 100% HVO, whereas HVO50 consists of 50% HVO and 50% Diesel fuel.
