‘Green’ Europe-Asia freight solution launched

The move comes on the back of the company experiencing double digit growth for freight forwarding, particularly in Asia, meaning it makes sense to roll out a China-France solution.

This comes as the demand for the Asia-Europe rail landbridge also continues to grow. Apparently, both DHL and UPS have launched less-than-container load (LCL) cargo services on a twice-weekly train between the inland Chinese manufacturing hub of Zhengzhou and Hamburg that compete directly with air freight services.

Geodis CEO Marie-Christine Lombard said in the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report 2014: “We are developing increasingly innovative eco-friendly solutions which combines road and rail to produce a low-carbon solution that will help our customers to substantially lower their greenhouse gas emissions.”

Going forward, the company said achieving pollution-free urban logistics continues to be high on the agenda.

With this in mind, this year will see Geodis roll out its ‘Megacities’ project, providing eco-friendly services starting in Paris, Mexico and Shanghai. In Paris, the distribution and express segment of the business will progressively implement and increase the amount of electric vehicles in its fleet. In addition, the company will also look at other options for alternative fuels.

Geodis Wilson has five lines of business – supply chain optimisation, freight forwarding, contract logistics, distribution and express, and road transport. The company is one of the world’s largest freight forwarding operators, seeing double digit growth in 2014, particularly in Asia.