GLS France has opened its first ‘green’ depot in Brest, north-western France, to further thedeployment of renewable energies while ensuring the industrial performance of the site.
The new €1.4 million depot that started operating in October this year is part of thecompany’s revised transport plan related to the restructuring of the production system.
About 5,000 parcels are sorted every day on an operational area of 1,400 sqm, ensuringdelivery and pick-up in the departments of Finistère and parts of Côtes d’Armor and Morbihan. Thefacility is equipped with the latest technology implemented within the GLS network includingmodular conveyors with telescopic handles that enable individual handling of the parcels. Thescanners installed within the sorting chain along with the video-control system ensure the processtransparency and parcel safety, GLS France said in a statement.
The building is framed with timber while the parking area is equipped with a rainwaterretrieval system. The 7,500 litres of water collected this way will be used for sanitary purposes.A photovoltaic centre with a power of 35.4 kw is installed on the roof of the depot. The producedelectricity will be re-sold to distributors and support the network.
This first green depot in France confirms GLS’ environmental commitment despite the difficulteconomic situation. “In fact, customer satisfaction and the performance of its network are the keyelements of GLS’ quality policy, and the impact of its activities on environment plays anincreasingly important role,” the company said.
Through its Europe-wide policy “Think Green”, GLS aims to strengthen its climate protectionactivities with a series of measures to reduce polluting emissions. In April this year, the groupopened its very first “green“ depot in Vaihingen-Enz, Germany.
