Multimodal Conference 2024

Zeus was founded to help create a single universal standard that enables everyone to work together to reduce the environmental impact of global freight and promote a green supply chain. 

We are proud to offer some of the most impactful freight solutions to assist our customers in their decarbonisation journeys. From our industry-leading sustainable freight services and fully-accredited freight emissions measurement and reporting to our day-to-day business activities, sustainability is at the core of everything we do at Zeus. We remain dedicated to supporting and leading these efforts, leveraging our expertise and innovative solutions to help drive the industry towards a more sustainable future.

Last week, I had the pleasure of moderating a panel discussion at Multimodal 2024, the largest intermodal and freight transport event in the UK. Multimodal has successfully fostered a vibrant supply chain and logistics community comprising shippers, retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, importers, exporters, and the suppliers who support them. This premier logistics expo not only showcases the latest industry innovations and solutions but also provides a valuable platform for networking and learning.

The panel featured esteemed industry leaders: Professor Philip Greening from Heriot-Watt University and Director of two research centres: The Centre for Sustainable Road Freight and the Centre for Logistics and Sustainability, Chris Welch, Managing Director at Welch’s Transport, and Colin Synnott, Group Logistics Director at Kingfisher PLC. Our discussion centred on a critical and timely topic: “Net Zero: Will We Decarbonise the Road Freight Sector in Time?”

With the UK facing a 2050 deadline to achieve a net-zero emission economy, it is clear that businesses with transportation interests are diligently working to decarbonise their operations. While significant progress has been made, the urgency of the task at hand remains paramount. We have approximately 25 years to implement the necessary changes to meet this ambitious target.

Our discussion delved into five key areas:

1. Understanding and Awareness: Is there consistency of understanding across the different segments of the industry with respect to what needs to be done and by when?  Is there a firm awareness of how this should be tackled and the solutions currently available to start making an impact now?
2. Prioritisation: Is this a priority for all organisations?  Where does it sit in the list of priorities?  Do shareholders focus on profit only and is there a way to link the two?
3. Responsibility: Everyone has a responsibility to deliver on our environmental commitments, whether that be the Governing bodies, the supply side, the demand side and the end customer.  But is this an equally shared responsibility or do one or two or three actors bear more responsibility than the other(s)?  Does one of these actors have to take the lead in driving decarbonisation and setting the tone?  
4. Collaboration: This is a key enabler to having the best chance of success. But, are we seeing good, bad or indifferent levels of collaboration across the industry?  How can we stimulate greater levels of collaboration?
5. Apportionment of Cost: Without a shadow of a doubt the cost of decarbonisation will be significant.  This is unarguable.  Who pays for this?  Is the cost of decarbonisation equally shared or will we see the majority hit the customers pocket?  Is that right and is it fair?

We had varying opinions given at every stage, all delivered with good, objective and sensible rationale.  Evidencing that this is not a problem that is easily fixed.  But unanimous agreement for two very crucial items - 

• Urgent and heightened levels of collaboration, including breaking down any barriers to the open sharing of data, 
• Governments are stepping up with renewed levels of leadership and commitment and not being afraid to create more mandatory pressure to force change for good.

It would be remiss of me not to highlight there are an enormous amount of excellent initiatives taking place across the length and breadth of the industry.  In conclusion, the panel reaffirmed the necessity for the road freight sector to accelerate its decarbonization efforts.  The commitment and collaborative spirit displayed by industry leaders at Multimodal 2024 give us confidence that the sector is on the right path.

At Zeus, we are committed to leading the decarbonisation effort in the freight sector in close partnership with our customers. We offer our customers an industry-leading freight emissions calculation and reporting service. This will enable our customers to not only track their freight emissions from Zeus-managed freight activities, but also to track the impact which Zeus sustainable freight solutions is having on reducing your Scope 3 emissions; typically an 80% reduction. 

 Zeus provides companies with real and actionable ways to streamline, improve and decarbonise their freight transport. We can offer industry-leading accredited emissions calculations for all shipments. One of our core products, Zeus Freight Connect is designed for high-volume, high-frequency shippers seeking to increase reliability and sustainability metrics for their ‘middle mile’ routes across the UK and Europe. We are full members of Sustainable Freight Buyer Alliance and Global Logistics Emissions Council since March, 2023.