Road freight

Road freight represents a huge portion of international freight transport emissions, however there are a number of solutions available to help decarbonise it. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is one option - a renewable diesel alternative that is produced by converting vegetable oils and animal fats through a process called hydrotreating.

HVO has several advantages over traditional diesel, such as having a higher cetane number which means it ignites more easily and burns cleaner, producing fewer particulate matter and nitrous oxide emissions. Due to these inherent properties and the fuel sources, it has a far lower environmental impact than standard diesel, offering emissions savings of up to 90% compared to diesel.

Another more widely known solution is battery electric vehicles. BEV’s function by storing power in onboard batteries, which are then used to power motors, which give the vehicle motion. One of the main advantages over internal combustion engine vehicles is their zero tank-to-wheel emissions.

Finally, one other common low carbon alternative is hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which use a fuel cell to convert hydrogen into electricity, which is then used to power an electric motor. Hydrogen fuel is stored in high-pressure tanks on the vehicle and when the tank runs out, it can be refuelled in the similar process to petrol or diesel vehicle. The only emission from hydrogen vehicles is water vapour, making them another zero tank-to-wheel emission solution.

There are lengthy ongoing debates over which of these solutions (or even others that we haven’t mentioned) will be the replacement for diesel. At Woodland, we see the solution as less binary, rather we feel that a blended approach is the most effective way forward, using each of these solutions as they become available and as they are appropriate. Limitations of battery range, HVO availability, and hydrogen production mean each of these solutions has its restraints. Therefore we will continue to use each solution as appropriate, and where possible.

Air freight

The main approach that Woodland Group recognises when it comes to decarbonising air freight is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). SAF is an aviation biofuel produced from renewable sources such as biomass, agricultural residues, waste oils and other organic sources. Its availability is limited by the overall feedstock supply and the ongoing use of oil feedstocks in road and maritime fuels. SAF is a drop-in fuel, meaning it can be added with no changes required to the aircraft’s infrastructure.

Another way to implement sustainable practices within air freight includes several efficiency improvements. Having thicker fuselages on planes increases airflow, and longer slimmer wings reduce drag. Both of these increase an aircraft’s fuel efficiency.

Another way to reduce the environmental footprint of air freight is to use AI to detect and reduce contrails. Contrails are the thin, white lines left behind by aeroplanes. The white clouds form when aeroplanes fly through areas of humidity. These account for approximately 35% of aviation’s global warming impact as they create a warming effect by reflecting sunlight back into space and trapping large amounts of heat into the atmosphere.

A final way to reduce aviation’s carbon footprint would be to simply reduce the amount the transport mode is used. A multi-modal approach to air freight includes sea and road freight to the main leg of the journey. For example, sea freight from China to a UK port, and then road freight to the final destination would be approximately 90% less emitting than air freight from China to the UK. Alternatively, including a sea leg to make the air leg shorter would have a similar effect. This also balances the environmental benefits and lead time.

Sea freight

There are various types of maritime biofuels. One of the most common alternatives is Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). LNG is a cleaner burning fuel compared to traditional maritime fuels. It mainly consists of methane and produces lower levels of sulphur oxides, nitrous oxides and particulate matter.

Bio-LNG is a biofuel made by processing organic waste, such as organic household and industrial food waste, manure, and sewage. The main components of this biofuel are methane and carbon dioxide. Bio-LNG is a renewable replacement for LNG as it offers similar advantages with significantly less particulate matter emissions.

Another alternative maritime fuel is methanol. Methanol is a liquid fuel that can be produced from natural gas, biomass, or carbon dioxide. This is also less polluting than traditional maritime fuel. It can also be used in existing engines with minimal modifications.

Ammonia is another potential maritime alternative fuel with zero carbon emissions at the point of combustion. It can be produced from renewable energy sources or by using carbon capture and storage technologies. A final example of an alternative maritime fuel is bioethanol. This is produced from the microbial fermentation of sucrose, starch or cellulose to ethanol. Feedstocks include sugar cane, corn and sugar beets, which result in a cleaner burning fuel that produces fewer emissions.

Aside from alternative maritime fuels, there are also other ways to improve the fuel efficiency of maritime vessels and other contributors to emission reductions. Scrubbers, for example, are exhaust gas cleaning systems used to remove harmful elements from exhaust gases (similar to catalytic converters in road vehicles). Any sulphur oxides present in the exhaust are removed when they react with the water in the chamber.

Automated sails made of steel and fibreglass can be utilised to make use of the wind to move the vessel, so it does not solely rely on its engine propulsion. Some maritime vessels also offer direct carbon capture where the tailpipe emissions are stored onboard as they are produced and taken to land. Carbon capture then involves the separation of gases from CO2, and then permanent storage to avoid releasing the greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Rail freight

Rail freight can be used as a national or international solution to transport freight.

Rail is a very low-emitting transport mode, so where possible, Woodland Group aims to utilise it as a replacement for pre- and post-leg road freight. This has the opportunity to reduce emissions significantly. Another use for rail is to use it as the main transport mode where the networks and availability allow for it.

The expansion of rail networks across Europe means that rail and short sea, with small road pre and post legs, can be an effective alternative for road transport. This can offer emission savings of up to 70% on average.

Insetting

Insetting is the implementation of renewable fuel somewhere within a different supply chain to your own. It can be used in road, sea, and air freight transport. To find out more about insetting and how it differs from offsetting, please take a look at our dedicated page on the topic.

Consolidation

By consolidating loads, there may be the chance to remove the need for some journeys being made. That is why consolidation is a key component of the services that Woodland Group offers. If fewer journeys are being carried out, then that removes the emissions associated with them. To find out more about our consolidation services, please reach out to us here.