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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 activities.
With our GLS Climate Protect strategy, we focus on avoidance and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and, furthermore, compensate CO2-emissions additionally and voluntarily reduce the amount of 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.
*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 achieve economic sussess in a sustainable manner and in connection with the protection of our enviroment. 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. LPG, CNG or LNG 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. Focussed climate-neutral shipping increased our costs and thus our prices unfortunately. But even if it seems a lot at first sight and has a significant impact, in the long term it is an inevitable investment in the future of our planet.
Eberhard Thiele, Director Sales & Marketing
Through innovative and smart solutions and the use of e-vehicles, we not only actively relieve the burden on urban infrastructures, but also reduce emissions on the last mile. The increasing number of our e-vehicles, the continuous expansion of our ParcelShop and ParcelStation network for additional delivery options and the use of micro-depots help us to make parcel logistics even more efficient and sustainable.
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.
promotes clean wind energy and community development trough the creation of jobs combined with trainings. The clean wind energy is generated through 143 wind turbines, resulting in a total capacity of 300 MW.
Certified according to GS VER
protects an endangered Amazon region. The project protects a 100,000-hectare area and helps local communities to manage it sustainably.
Certified according to VCS / CCBS Gold Level
prevents deforestation of the rainforest in the project area. Covering 148,000 hectares in the Brazilian Amazon the project helps to prevent illegal logging in the rainforest.
Certified according to VCS / CCBS
improves the green energy supply for local communities and supports the development of needed infrastructure in the region. The project generates 832,550 MWh clean electricity each year from solar energy.
Certified according to GS VER
promotes clean wind energy and community development trough the creation of jobs combined with trainings. Clean wind energy is generated through 23 wind turbines, resulting in a total capacity of 51 MW.
Certified according to GS VER
improves the green energy supply for local communities and supports the development of needed infrastructure in the region. The project generates 416.000 MWh clean electricity each year from solar energy.
Certified according to GS VER
120 wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 252 MW generate 556,508 MWh per year for the Indian energy grid. This amount of electricity would otherwise have been produced using fossil fuels. This increases the power supply, helping to close the region's energy gap. Further, the wind power project promotes sustainable development through new long-term employment opportunities, combined with various training sessions for all employees.
Certified according to GS VER
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. LPG, CNG or LNG vehicles) or no emissions (e.g. electric or hydrogen vehicles).
