Sustainable labels for freight transport
Road freight transport is an important prerequisite for the functioning of our society and business. Not least, the importance of transport has increased as more and more people choose to shop online. At the same time, the increasing amount of transport affects the environment in our cities, the working environment in the industry and, not least, our climate.
On behalf of the Swedish Energy Agency, a large number of players in the transport and e-commerce industry have worked together to develop the criteria for and agree on three sustainability labels for freight and e-commerce transport, in order to effectively and credibly help both professional transport buyers and e-commerce consumers make better choices.
E-commerce and the transport industry urgently need to take big steps towards more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly transport. Here, we believe that reliable labels are important to push the work forward and ensure that those who take sustainability issues seriously also get something out of it. That is why we are funding this arena where labelling bodies, e-commerce and the transport industry can work together.
Olov Åslund , Mobility Officer, Swedish Energy Agency
The work of the Sustainability Labeling Forum has been conducted in close consultation with the labeling bodies Swanen , Fair Transport and Bra Miljöval together with a large number of industry players during 2020-2022. This has, among other things, laid the foundation for Swanen's new labeling for e-commerce transport to end consumers, which will be launched in 2023, as well as updated and expanded labeling at Fair Transport and Bra Miljöval.
How can sustainable labels have an effect on our freight transport?
Why are labels important for the industry?
The industry initiative, the sustainability label Fair Transport, is very good for us haulage contractors. Through it, we have a systematic sustainability effort that allows us to make it even better in dialogue with our customers. The fact that we have established routines, checklists, and policy documents enables us to follow laws and regulations in a structured manner and achieve set goals. This makes it easier for me to be an employer, and my employees know what we can expect from each other, which makes us an attractive employer, a safe and secure workplace where we collectively achieve set environmental and climate goals, road safety, and fair competition on equal terms. The third-party control also gives me a check that we are on the right track.
Tord Sandin, CEO and Owner, Sandin Cargo AB och Sandin Bud AB
Bra Miljöval is a valuable ecolabel for us. We want to inspire our industry to transition to fossil-free vehicle fleets, and we do this partly by acting as role models – something the Bra Miljöval ecolabel reinforces. For us, the ecolabel is also a clear competitive advantage and something we use often in our communication to our target groups and customers. The label is proof that we as a company are acting correctly and climate-consciously, and it is simultaneously external evidence that we meet strict and important environmental requirements.
Jenny Pettersson, Marketing Officer, Office Recycling
As our customers' environmental requirements increase, our Good Environmental Choice license becomes a stronger argument every year. Being a sustainable company and a good employer has always been important to us. In an industry with a significant environmental impact and partially low wages, we feel that we have created a sustainable alternative. Both for the environment, our staff, and our customers.
Patrick Hagman, vd, Miljöbud
Exchange of experience on sustainable labels for sustainable transport
Are you a transport buyer or carrier? E-retailer, freight forwarder or a municipality? Or just generally interested in how you can easily and effectively drive more sustainable freight and e-commerce transport with the help of third-party audited Sustainability Labels, such as Bra Miljöval and Fair Transport.
On March 16, an event was held that you can read about here afterwards.
