Every level of our business is influenced by the ideal we work towards: a Natural Evolution. In our production, in our distribution, and within our own company, the natural choice is our first priority.
Good driving habits improve the environment
There have been tangible results since Arla decided to raise awareness of tanker drivers’ fuel consumption in 2005. The initiative resulted in a six per cent reduction in fuel consumption in 2006. The secret behind the results was sharper focus by individual drivers on fuel economy, courses in "eco-driving", and a simple computer in vehicles.
Computers provide an overall view
The computer was installed in all of Arla's tankers in 2006 as part of the focus on fuel consumption. It helps drivers to gain an overall view of fuel economy. Anders Beck Larsen, who has general responsibility for the collection and transportation of milk in Sweden and Denmark, explains:
Courses kick-started good habits
When the computers were installed in the tankers, all tanker drivers attended a course where they were taught to drive efficiently and to use the computers.
"There are several things to concentrate on to improve fuel economy when you drive a heavy goods vehicle. Our system focuses on three parameters: excessive speed, cruising and idling, which the drivers received training in as part of the courses," says Anders Beck Larsen.
Tanker drivers who join Arla attend the "eco-driving" courses and take part in refresher courses on the technique every four years.
Competition promotes the process
The system makes it possible to print out reports showing the performance of the drivers. The reports are posted on notice boards so that they can see how well they do in comparison to their colleagues.
"We are very open about how well the drivers do and this has created a spirit of friendly competition among them to become better and better," says Anders Beck Larsen.
More kilometres per litre
Whereas Arla's Danish drivers used to get 2.2. kilometres out of a litre of diesel, after the courses in "eco-driving", they now get 2.5 kilometres. This corresponds to a saving of about 800,000 litres of diesel a year.
"Hopefully, the drivers also continue these good habits when they get into their own cars at the end of the day and in doing so also help to reduce fuel consumption when they're not at work." says Anders Beck Larsen.
- All year round, Arla's tankers are used to collect milk from about 10,000 farms in Great Britain, Denmark and Sweden. This means that Arla is not only a food producer, t has one of the largest logistics operations in Northern Europe.
- Transport is one of the main areas of focus in Arla's climate strategy. In addition to training drivers in "eco-driving", Arla invests in new, more environmentally-friendly vehicles, plans routes as efficiently as possible, and ensure vehicles travel with full loads.
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Proper planning and navigation reduce diesel consumption
Installing navigating equipment in Arla's Danish heavy goods vehicles will help to reduce Arla's diesel consumption. Work is already carried out systematically to plan drivers' routes in the best possible way. When Arla's drivers get behind the wheel to take fresh products to approximately 3,000 shops and supermarkets in Denmark, the route has already been entered in the vehicles' navigation system. Installing navigating devices will help increase efficiency even further. Logistics Manager Lene Dalibey, who is responsible for customer logistics, says:
"Installing navigating systems in the vehicles means that drivers take the shortest routes. This is particularly important for new drivers and replacement drivers because we can avoid them losing their way when they are on unfamiliar routes."
Not only reduction, also new forms of energy
Arla has been systematically planning drivers' routes for the past 15 years and this has led to benefits in relation to fuel consumption. Installing navigating equipment will mean a reduction in diesel consumption, but Arla's goal of a 25 per cent reduction in transport related CO2 emissions makes it necessary to implement new ideas.
" We have been working on reducing diesel consumption in relation to transport for a long time now. So, in the future, we may not be able to find any major ways of further reducing diesel consumption.However, new forms of energy, which could be biodiesel, hybrid vehicles, and similar alternatives will be the way forward," says Jan Dalsgaard, Group Environment Manager at Arla.
Investigating completely new methods
Finding completely new solutions has already begun. Lene Dalibey regularly meets with Arla's Logistics Manager from Sweden in an environmental forum where experience in the area can be exchanged. In Sweden, Arla can operate what are known as modular heavy goods vehicles, two of which can transport the same load as three ordinary vehicles. Arla is now looking into the possibility of doing the same in Denmark.
"In the forum we debate what we should do in this area. Would it be possible to save on fuel by cooling tankers with the help of solar roof cells, instead of fuel, for instance? We are now investigating various options," says Lene Dalibey.
- Arla has about 700 distribution vehicles in Great Britain, Denmark and Sweden. They deliver products to about 20,300 supermarkets and shops, catering outlets and restaurants.
- Transport is one of the main areas of focus in Arla's climate strategy. Arla's many vehicles drive many thousands of kilometres each year when taking milk from farm to dairy and from dairy to supermarket. A series of initiatives have been employed to reduce fuel consumption. Arla's drivers are trained in "eco-driving", a style of driving that saves diesel. There have been investments in new, more environmentally-friendly vehicles, and drivers' routes are planned so they are as efficient as possible.
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Better vehicles mean a better environment
Every day, Arla's tankers are used to collect milk from farmers, and every day products are transported to supermarkets and shops. Arla's 700 tankers and refrigerated vehicles clock up more than 42 million kilometres every year, so transporting milk accounts for a major percentage of Arla's annual CO2 emissions.
Modern assembly of vehicles
Arla has increased its focus on transport as part of the company's commitment to reduce CO2 emissions. Like all other companies, Arla must adhere to EU standards which arelimits set by the EU for the maximum amount of emissions of nitrous oxide (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC) and particulate matter (PM) from heavy diesel vehicles.
Today, Euro IV standards apply and in October 2009 Euro V standards will come into force. These will tighten up environmental requirements even further, but Arla already only buys vehicles that adhere to the forthcoming Euro V standards. Major environmental benefits can be gained when older vehicles are replaced by new. When Arla replaces 55 of its vehicles with new ones in Denmark during 2009, this will result in a reduction of NOx emissions by approximately 20 tonnes and a reduction of CO2 emissions by approximately 160 tonnes.
Arla well ahead
"Even though Euro IV standards are still applicable, we now only buy vehicles that live up to Euro V standards, which come into force in October 2009," says Peter Eriksen, Technical Manager for distribution vehicles in Denmark and Sweden.
"In this way, we get the best that suppliers can produce in relation to environmentally-friendly vehicles."
But it is not only in areas governed by legislation that Arla is well ahead. Arla decided back in 2006 to equip older vehicles in Copenhagen with particulate filters to reduce particulate matter emissions. And Arla colleagues constantly keep their eyes and ears open for new, environmentally-friendly systems.
"Today there is a big focus on the development of environmentally-friendly vehicles and many vehicle manufacturers are working on various projects. It is not as yet possible to buy what are known as hybrid vehicles which are big enough to cover our needs, but they will hopefully be on the market from 2010, and we will naturally follow developments closely," says Peter Eriksen.
- Every year, Arla is responsible for the emission of 500,000 tonnes of CO2 during the transportation of milk from farms to dairies and products from dairies to supermarkets and shops. Arla focuses on increasing its use of biofuels, training its drivers to drive in an environmentally-friendly manner, and planning drivers' routes efficiently as part of its objective to reduce CO2 emissions by 25 per cent before 2020.
- Euro standards are limits set by the EU for the maximum amount of emissions of nitrous oxide (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC) and particulate matter (PM) from heavy diesel vehicles. The first set of EU standards for motor vehicles came into force in 1993 and since then they have been made stricter several times. Today, Euro IV standards are applicable. This means that all heavy good vehicles sold today must adhere to the requirements of these standards. Euro V standards will come into force in October 2009 and after this date it will only be possible to buy vehicles that meet these standards.
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