Sustainability

Social, environmental and economic

As a leading European courier service provider, the GLS Group is fully aware of its detailed responsibility towards the environment and community.

Sustainability for GLS is a widely conceived idea covering environmental, social and economic aspects of corporate social responsibility.

It means providing perfection in parcel logistics for the Group customers as well as safe jobs for employees. By providing its services GLS contributes to mobility and reliable delivery of goods, which makes up the basis for economy.

The goal of the Group is to achieve a persistent economic success maintaining at the same time environmental protection for future generations. GLS is a company committed to creating future for the community for which and in which it operates.

In the sustainability report GLS provides information on the situation development in the fiscal year 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2018/2019– presents key environmental balance data and instances of social commitment of GLS subsidiaries in Europe.

Sustainability Reports Download
GLS electric cargo delivery bicycle and driver in business district

ThinkGreen

Taking care of the environment is the principle that GLS puts into effect each day thanks to the ThinkGreen initiative implemented in 2008.

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GLS trainees ready to start their training

ThinkSocial

Trainings and professional development of employees, social activity and supporting culture and sports – for current and future generations.

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Our actions
Committed to the future

GLS implements pre-planned actions ensuring that all shipment-related operations are environmental-friendly. The goal is to effectively use resources and optimise processes.

Vehicles

GLS reduces fuel consumption and limits the emission of greenhouse gases. The whole fleet is gradually replaced by more environmental-friendly models, including subcontractor vehicles and passenger company cars.

Planning transport routes

To improve operational processes and transport procedures, GLS use modern IT-based planning tools. The distance of transport routes is systematically reduced by optimising planning systems.

Buildings

GLS green structures: when designing new buildings as well as extending or upgrading existing ones pro-environmental aspects are taken into account. Rainwater collection systems, photovoltaic (PV) systems, recycled building materials and heating systems with heat pumps are used wherever possible.

Other actions

GLS improves the prevailing part of procedures to make them even more environmental-friendly, for example by implementing e-invoices in Europe, electronic letters of delivery and confirmations. Video conferences allow us to reduce the number of business trips.

Certified quality and sustainability
Throughout Europe

Thanks to all-European quality and environmental management systems, GLS provides high quality and sustainability. GLS possesses DIN ISO 9001:2015 and 14001:2015 certificates issued by DQS, a globally recognise auditing company. These advanced systems meet the requirements of high, international standards.

Quality is company top priority

By precisely specified processes, specific guidelines and control procedures as well as regular audits, GLS can provide a high level of services. Key quality indexes are constantly monitored.

Appreciated environmental management

GLS is a pro-environmental company that puts into effect the idea of sustainability in all countries where it operates. The ISO 14001 certificate for the environmental management system have been granted to 18 GLS Group subsidiaries.

This, globally recognised standard is considered by manufacturers and service providers to be the most important in terms of environmental management.

Manufacturers and service providers consider this standard to be one of the most important documents in terms of environmental management.

GDP certificate for transporting medical products

GLS has also received a Good Distribution Practice (GDP) compliance certificate in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Ireland and Luxembourg. The GDP guidelines are binding in the territory of the European Union for pharmaceutical wholesalers. GLS branches in those six countries meet strict requirements for safety and hygiene regarding transporting medical products for human use without the need to maintain a controlled temperature.

GLS electric cargo delivery bicycle and driver in business district

Responsible actions

Taking care of the environment is the main GLS principle put into practice each day by employees throughout Europe. In 2008 GLS implemented the ThinkGreen environmental initiative aimed at coordinating and actively promoting various actions inside the GLS Group.

Programme goals:

Using resources responsibly
Reducing emission
Optimising waste management

Environmental awareness and taking adequate steps are present in each aspect of company activity – starting from planning carriage routes to single jobs.
All GLS country depots in Europe employ their own environmental officers.
The persons are responsible for implementing environmental protection-related actions in the whole Group.

GLS trainees ready to start their training

ThinkSocial - social responsibility

For present and future generations GLS employs people from many ethnic groups, cultural and religious circles with diverse views.

Mutual recognition, respect and understanding in everyday contacts with employees and partners are important principles applicable in the Group.

Intensive exchange of information with transport partners providing GLS delivery and collection services at the last mile is also an integral part of cooperation.

Employee development is a fundamental element of the GLS strategy - the Group's goal is to ensure long-term success, both for the company and its employees. In addition, helping those in need is a very important issue for management and regular employees.

GLS companies across Europe support selected local community initiatives through direct donations and free transport services.

GLS supports sport

As one of the leading logistics companies, GLS supports sports events, globally renowned and successful athletes and young people taking their first steps in sport.

Speedway racers, sponsored by GLS

Speedway

From 2017 till 2019 GLS was a sponsor of the Polish national team and a partner of the most important speedway events in Poland.

Athletic runners

Running

The Runner Club, sponsoring Poland Business Run and the Lion’s Run shows GLS Poland support for that sport.

Poland Speedway racers, sponsored by GLS

GLS supports speedway

In 2018 GLS significantly increased its support for speedway by involving in the most important sports events. The company is the official partner of FIM Speedway Grand Prix in Poland and the new formula of the Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations.
In Poland, GLS has also become the official partner of PGE Ekstraliga and continues sponsoring the Speedway National Team.

GLS supports running

Commitment to sports and local community

In 2018 GLS was the main partner of the Lion’s Run that took place near Poznań, not far from company headquarters. The main goal of the run was not a sporting success, but building the sense of community. The event attracts about 3,500 athletes at various ages who can run different distances. GLS provided attractions for the whole family, including the youngest family members.

GLS supports Poland Business Run

poland business run logo

Running together with colleagues for charity: over 16 thousand participants started simultaneously in 7 towns for the “Poza Horyzonty” Foundation. GLS Poland, as the main sponsor, supported 3 of those charity events. Runs took place in Gdańsk, Katowice, Łódź, Krakow, Poznań, Wrocław and Warsaw. The funds from starting fees were transferred to the Foundation founded by Jasiek Mela that financially supports the purchase of high-quality prostheses for amputees.

GLS Poland runs

In November 2016 GLS Poland founded the Runner Club. Almost 70 people represent the company in running events taking place in Poland (5 km, 10 km distance, marathons and half marathons). GLS supports the Club by financing starting fees and providing company running shirts.