DHL Express has increased its CO2 efficiency in Asia Pacific for the fourth year in a row, withan improvement of 7.4% in 2012, despite handling higher volumes last year, but at a rate that was
below the record 21% improvement in 2011.A major contributor to its improved CO2 efficiency in the region was fleet modernization,including new and more fuel-efficient vehicles in ground transport. Over 500 vehicles in AsiaPacific were replaced with new ones featuring innovative systems like GPS and telematics to helpmonitor, measure, analyse and improve the carbon-efficiency behaviour of drivers, in addition tocontinued efforts on route optimisation and asset utilisation.
Most of the vehicles comply with Euro IV and V emission standards, which are defined by theEuropean Commission as the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions for new light-duty vehicles soldin European Union member states.
Thailand, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Bangladesh were the top performers among thecountries in the region, the express operator said. The efficiency figure includes Greenhouse Gas(GHG) Protocol Scope 1 & 2 CO2 emissions on the ground, but excludes all aviation CO2emissions. The reduction is calculated for the group’s own operations and those of its transportsubcontractors, compared to 2007 levels.
The business in Thailand proved to be the region’s most outstanding performer, with a 36.2%year-on-year improvement in CO2 efficiency, followed by Australia with 22.7%.
In Thailand, diesel vehicles were fitted with gasoline engines running on 100% CNG (CompressedNatural Gas). Australia’s older fleet was also upgraded with new and more fuel-efficient vehicles,meeting Euro V standards, while changes to ground facilities with improved energy utilisation alsoplayed a big role in achieving CO2 improvements.
Other top performers Japan, Singapore and Bangladesh achieved CO2 efficiency improvements of18.6%, 17.9% and 12.4% respectively. DHL’s Central Asia Hub was the top hub with an 11.4%improvement in CO2 efficiency.
Jerry Hsu, CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific, said: “Demand for DHL Express services has increasedin Asia Pacific. Last year, we saw a double-digit growth in volume, yet overall we managed toachieve a 7.4% year-on-year improvement in carbon efficiency. Despite opening new and biggerfacilities to serve growing customer demand — such as the North Asia Hub in Shanghai — ourincreasingly efficient ground operations and energy-efficient buildings have enabled us to loweroverall carbon emissions for the fourth year in a row, showing our absolute dedication to growing asustainable business.”
