#OnlyOneEarth – Living and experiencing environmental management at REICHHART

Gilching near Munich – Under this year's motto "#OnlyOneEarth" of the UNEP (United Nations Environmental Program), the International Day of the Environment will take place on 5 June 2022. For REICHHART Logistik, the practice of environmental management is a key part of its corporate strategy. The logistics service provider not only focuses on projects and measures in contract and transport logistics, but also draws attention to environmental and sustainability issues via internal campaigns.

Sustainability, resource efficiency and environmental protection – these are issues that REICHHART, as a medium-sized family business, wants to actively shape and promote. With the customer in mind, environmental and sustainability aspects play a major role along the supply chain. But in-house, too, the logistics service provider is committed to promoting sustainable and resource-conserving behaviour in all areas of the company. The environmental management system at REICHHART ranges from simple solutions such as the installation of wallboxes to long-term strategic decisions such as the integration of sustainable vehicle technologies.

In order to actively shape the transition to green logistics, REICHHART relies on a wide range of measures that are considered at the early stage of planning logistical service processes. For example, colleagues in logistics planning examine how sustainable waste management can be integrated into logistics processes through ecological packaging, reusable containers and proper disposal.

What's more, the choice of location can be a lever for greater sustainability. If chosen strategically, transport distance and thus CO₂ emissions can be saved. This is also where transport logistics come into play, by planning tours and transports so that routes to the customer are optimally utilised right from the start. This cross-divisional collaboration enables holistic sustainability concepts to be implemented. Ecological aspects are also considered in the choice of buildings. In the planning phase, for example, preference is given to new construction projects with high energy efficiency and environmentally friendly equipment such as photovoltaic systems. This approach has allowed  REICHHART and its customers to deliver logistical services with a better ecological balance, bringing economic advantages at the same time.

With existing customers, REICHHART also continuously examines how to position its locations more sustainably through constant optimisation of the services. At some logistics locations, so-called door air curtains will be used in the future, replacing fossil oil heating systems in some cases. Air curtain systems keep the heat in the logistics halls and allow more energy-efficient heating, thus saving up to 1,200 litres of heating oil per season.

Another example from contract logistics is a project to avoid plastic on site. In order to optimise the use of resources holistically, plastic materials have been reduced, especially in the goods receiving area, as well as in the collection and labelling of containers.

The company has introduced various projects in transport logistics that promote sustainable fleet management. In addition to continuous training offers for drivers, professional maintenance of the truck fleet or the use of data-driven transport optimization software, the regular testing and integration of alternative drives also plays a decisive role here.

Two trucks with LNG-powered tractors have been in operation at the Sulzbach-Rosenberg logistics site since last year. In addition, REICHHART is conducting test drives with a bio-CNG truck together with a biofuel producer for a transport logistics customer. Projects like this enable alternative drive technologies to be tested in practice. Together with the customer, sensible alternatives can be found to reduce the CO₂ footprint of transports.

To reduce fossil fuels and promote e-mobility, for example, two diesel-powered vehicles in the company fleet at the Eisenach site have been replaced with fully electric vehicles. This enables the site to save 640 litres of diesel fuel per year, thus not only increasing its eco-balance but also saving costs.  Another example in this area: wallboxes at the Bischofsheim site. With the installation of two charging stations for electric cars at one of the REICHHART locations, employees as well as customers and partners will be able to charge their hybrid and electric cars directly on site in the future.

In order to anchor topics such as sustainability and social responsibility even more firmly in the company, REICHHART will publish a Corporate Social Responsibility Report (CSR Report) in the future. This report provides an insight into fair business practices, the use of resources, current environmental protection measures, key performance indicators and topics such as the company's internal management concept. This enables REICHHART to define fixed development targets and subsequently control their implementation on an ongoing basis.

On the occasion of the World Environment Day, REICHHART has again launched an Environment Week this year. To raise awareness of the issue, the campaign is showcasing the company's current sustainability measures, which focus on the slogan #OnlyOneEarth at all times. But that's not all, the logistics service provider has also initiated various campaigns to encourage active involvement. For example, employees and other interested parties can test their knowledge of waste separation via social media and receive practical tips on how to reduce plastic. Moreover, employees are also asked to get personally involved: An internal idea management system allows employees to submit suggestions for greater sustainability. In this way, everyone can play a part in ensuring that environmental management is genuinely practised at REICHHART.

Learn more about UNEP's World Environment Day and #OnlyOneEarth here:

https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/

Pressekontakt

Julia Lacher
Leitung Unternehmenskommunikation & Markenmanagement

Tel.: +49 (0)8105 38 36 284
presse@reichhart.eu