Caring for the environment has been part of Ahola Group's strategy since the mid-1990s. We are constantly working to improve our environmental profile and reduce our emissions.
We were delighted to inform in the 2021 Environmental Report that we had met the EU's emissions reduction targets for 2030, more than ten years ahead of schedule. Ahola Transport's road transport emissions have been reduced by 63% compared to 2005, which is the baseline comparison for the EU and Finland.
Rationalization of logistics through digitization
When it comes to reducing emissions, the keyword is digitization. Three of the four reduced tons of CO2 at Ahola have been reduced with the help of data. Data enables effective advance planning and real-time reaction.
The success of our emission reduction goals is mainly due to the dynamic operating system we developed, where the customers' freight needs are the starting point for all routing. This way, we can shorten delivery times, minimize cargo handling, increase flexibility and reduce emissions. All solutions can be simulated in advance, the most efficient routes and solutions are selected with the help of digital twins, and the route of each transport can be changed on the fly if the situation so requires.
By combining vehicle data and operational data, we are capable of efficient planning and emission reporting even at the level of a single shipment.
Both the environment and the customer benefit from efficient transport planning.
Of course, digitization alone is not enough, but several mutually supportive means are needed. The development of our methods of operation is continuous – the expertise of our personnel, processes, and digitization of the entire supply chain. We are also constantly developing our transport equipment and energy solutions.
But digitalization is a superior tool when it comes to our most important target – we don't want to drive any unnecessary kilometers or transport any empty space.
The kilometer not driven is always the most environmentally friendly
Everyone is excited about new forms of energy, electricity, gas, and hydrogen, for a good reason. But we are not left waiting for new forms of energy as a solution to heavy traffic emissions. There is a much faster and more efficient path to cutting emissions - the benefit of data is not limited to minimizing the carbon footprint - it can make transports powered by all forms of energy more efficient. Even if transportation does not consume fossil fuels, it still consumes some form of energy and natural resources. Whatever may power the transport equipment, one rule applies: the kilometer not driven is the most environmentally friendly.
The most important tasks at the core of Ahola's environmental work
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We are constantly reducing our fuel consumption and emissions in relation to the quantity of transported freight.
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We increase our co-workers’ insight into environmental issues.
Our main development areas of environmentally friendly transport services are:
- We will increase our co-workers’ insight into environmental issues.
- eco-driving
- operational efficiency and minimization of waste
- lower fuel consumption and higher payload
- carbon neutrality
Our goal for 2022 is to continue improving these areas of development, research and develop new technologies and energy alternatives, and further develop the energy efficiency of our facilities.
The numeric target for 2022 is 27.39 grams of CO2e / t.km in road transport, which is 0.56 grams less than in 2021.
Read the full environmental report here:
aholatransport.com/material-bank