Being green and low-carbon is common task for human sustainable development. Promoting green logistics has become an inevitable requirement for building a high-quality modern circulation system and a fundamental strategy for achieving sustainable development in the industry. Since March 2022, based on its long-term experience in logistics industry and the carbon emissions of its own, Sinotrans studied and described the company's path to achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality, and focused its “dual carbon” work on green logistics. It has proposed development vision of “practitioner and innovator of green logistics ecological construction” and released SINOTRANS Green Logistics White Paper. A series of effective demonstration applications have been implemented.
Green logistics supply chain solutions
Based on its own experience and in-depth research, Sinotrans has formed green supply chain solutions by applying cleaner and more efficient biomass fuel, LNG energy, electric logistics vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, etc., which effectively reduced carbon emissions. Meanwhile, Sinotrans applied “Carbon Footprint Calculator” independently developed by its own to estimate specific carbon emissions for the green supply chain.
By “Carbon Footprint Calculator”, Sinotrans optimizes the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions directly or indirectly generated in supply chain for one of its communication equipment customers. It selected clean energy logistics equipment and facilities such as electric city distribution vehicles, LNG heavy trucks, and electric forklifts, reducing carbon emissions by about 30% in total. Meanwhile, airline's SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) helped reduce the project's carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 80%. By purchasing combined carbon sink of international VCS and I-REC, Sinotrans realized its first carbon neutrality for customers to offset carbon emissions during air transportation, and achieved carbon neutrality in“end-to-end” logistics service.
Intelligent solutions for green logistics
Sinotrans focuses on the application of cutting-edge technology in logistics industry, deeply cultivates the upstream and downstream scenarios of the industry's customer supply chain, and has achieved significant progress in “scenario+technology” and “customer+technology” application.Sinotrans strives to build “zero carbon+smart” warehouse/park this year.
Taking the automation project of Sinotrans’ Ningbo Beilun Logistics Park as an example, solution is planned to tailor the high volume of inbound and outbound inventory in cross-border e-commerce industry. It integrates technologies such as AI visual recognition, laser SLAM navigation, shuttle and elevator equipment, intelligent scheduling algorithms, and AI positioning recognition to help customers improve supply chain operation efficiency and reduce costs. The solution increases the overall storage capacity by over 40% and the sorting efficiency by over 50%. It will mainly serve bonded export consolidation and import cross-border e-commerce business in Yangtze River Delta region.
Green logistics and clean energy solutions
Sinotrans actively explores cleaner and more efficient biomass fuel, LNG energy, as well as more environmentally friendly applications such as electric logistics vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell logistics vehicles. As of 2023, the total transportation mileage of “hydrogen” fuel heavy-duty trucks used by Sinotrans has reached approximately 48800 kilometers, and the electrification rate of forklifts has reached over 75%. At the same time, equipment such as electric city distribution vehicles, trunk transportation vehicles, and tractors also play an important role in reducing carbon and energy consumption in the logistics scenes of Sinotrans.
Taking Sinotrans’ Huangpu Warehouse Company as an example, 22 electric traction vehicles are procured for reducing pollutant emissions. Based on the actual operation volume from May to September 2022, it is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 655 tons, sulfur dioxide emissions by 0.0048 tons, and nitrogen oxide emissions by 0.36 tons throughout the year.
At the same time, Sinotrans has comprehensively promoted carbon reduction measures and increased promotion and application in optimizing energy consumption structure. More than 100000 square meters of photovoltaic power plates have been built on the roof of warehouses, and approximately 4MW of distributed photovoltaic power will be increased in 2023. 37 sets of shore power facilities have been built in 11 port terminals, with a total shore power capacity of 2037kVA generated.
Construction of Green Logistics Professional Talent System
The long-term and effective development of green logistics derives from the talent strength. In 2023, Sinotrans collaborated with certification agencies to create advanced courses and courseware for its “dual carbon” training. No less than 4 warehouse (park) scenarios are chosen to conduct greenhouse gas inventory and on-site operation. As of July 2023, 90 employees have obtained the certification of greenhouse gas inspectors from China Certification and Accreditation Association (CCAA). In the future, Sinotrans plans to build a professional carbon inventory team of over 300 people, providing comprehensive support for low-carbon and carbon reduction work.
The “dual carbon” goal is driving green and low-carbon related emerging industries to become new engine of economic growth. Sinotrans is seizing the opportunities from energy revolution and green revolution, exploring the best path for growth while practicing social responsibility. Sinotrans is willing to work with all partners to create a greener, better, and more sustainable future.
