In the Netherlands, Total Produce BV is aiming to further reduce its environmental footprint by integrating barge transportation into its intake process at the Port of Rotterdam.
On arrival, containers of melons, pineapples and a range of citrus are loaded directly from incoming vessels onto waiting barges, with these containers then ferried directly along the Maas estuary to the Total Produce warehouse facility, located less than 10m from portside.
Containers are then offloaded ready for immediate distribution and continued supply chain management with little-to-no break in the regime, the group explained in a statement.
'The primary dividend is environmental, said Petra Wielaard, logistics manager of Total Produce BV. '85 per cent of our incoming containers are now being transported in this fashion, removing some 1,000 containers so far from the roads – each of which would have previously required a 35km-110km round trip, depending on the terminal. This delivers a significant dividend in terms of reduced carbon emissions.'
Handling is also reduced, while the efficiency and directness of the supply chain is maintained, the group noted.
'There is no doubt that all of us – our customers and indeed ourselves here at Total Produce – have become increasingly conscious of our collective impact on the environment,' Wielaard added. 'We at Total Produce are committed to identifying opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint, without compromising quality.
'We are consequently very proud to be introducing this innovation, while recognising it represents just one more step in an ongoing process of delivery an even leaner, ever-more environmentally friendly supply chain.'
