To help its customers reduce their environmental footprint, GEODIS has developed an eco-design approach that integrates the impacts of its logistics services. GEODIS is one of the first logisticians in the world to be audited. Its eco-design methodology has been validated by the French association for quality improvement and management (AFAQ[1]).

Implemented by GEODIS for its Contract Logistics line of business, the eco-design methodology aims to identify the environmental impact of a logistics service at all stages of its life cycle and propose areas for improvement. GEODIS provides its customers with a detailed carbon assessment as well as effective reductions in, or even avoidance of CO₂ emissions. These options help to minimize energy consumption, improve waste management and optimize the use of buildings, equipment and transport flows. For one of its clients, GEODIS developed an approach to reduce CO₂ emissions by 51%, i.e., approximately 2,250 tons of CO₂ less over five years, using a system that combines the use of photovoltaic panels and LED lamps, recycling process, optimization of space and equipment, and a BREEAM-certified building.

“Our customers expect a strong commitment from their logistics partners. ISO 14001-certified for many years, we wanted to take our environmental approach even further and move towards a responsible supply chain. Our approach is based on more transparent communication. It provides a guarantee to our customers that behind an offer and a price, environmental aspects have been taken into account and are part of the quality of service that we are committed to delivering,” says Laurent Parat, President & CEO of Western Europe, Middle East & Africa (WEMEA) & EVP, Contract Logistics of GEODIS.

This unique approach (only 21% of companies use the eco-approach to develop products and services according to ADEME^[2]), addresses the entire life cycle of the logistics service. This is in line with the definition of eco-design, which “consists of integrating the environment from the design stage of a product or service, and during all stages of its life cycle” (AFNOR, 2004).

GEODIS’s approach is comprehensive. It incorporates CO2 emissions related to the total service life cycle.  From the initial sales and tender stage, it takes into account all the assets necessary through to the completion of the project, including the final site closure phase.

The GEODIS engineers in charge of designing logistics offers are all trained in the eco-design approach to anticipate CO₂ emissions before a project even begins. GEODIS customers have access to a comparison between a standard logistics offer and the “eco-designed” proposal, which they can use in their own carbon assessment.

The methodology, based on GEODIS’s expertise and data in sustainable development, has been audited by an external auditing firm and validated by AFAQ.

“With the development of e-Commerce, more and more customers are calling on us to find solutions to decarbonize and reduce waste in the supply chain. We wanted to provide our clients with a very precise assessment of the CO₂ emissions generated, but above all to propose sustainable solutions to limit them as much as possible,” concludes Laurent Parat.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a global leading transport and logistics services provider recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a global network spanning nearly 170 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.4 billion in sales.

[1] (Association Française pour l’Amélioration et le Management de la Qualité).

[2] ADEME: (Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie [Agency for the Environment and Energy Management])

As part of a dedicated range of e-Commerce services, GEODIS now offers a complete product returns management service. Thanks to GEODIS, retailers and e-merchants will be able to benefit from an end-to-end technological and logistical solution covering the entire value chain, from order orchestration to product returns management, available throughout Europe.

In response to the growing popularity of online shopping and a substantial increase in product returns, GEODIS has developed an integrated range of reverse logistics services that combine the power of digital technology with its international transport network and its expertise in logistics (managing 8.7 million m² of warehousing space worldwide). This turnkey GEODIS solution is designed to relieve retailers and e-retailers of the operational management of product returns. It includes the declaration of consumer returns, product collection and identification, and delivery of the items back into stock.

For the digital aspects of this solution, GEODIS has selected the innovative French start-up ShopRunBack, which operates in over 100 countries. It will provide retailers and e-merchants with its white-label returns management platform, which can be accessed from all merchant sites. Using this platform, the consumer selects the product to be returned and the reason for the return and chooses the method of pick-up. The package can be collected at the consumer’s home or left at a drop-off point. GEODIS services are responsible for collecting products and transporting them to the warehouse, as well as the entire process of control, sorting, repackaging for dispatch and where appropriate recycling, according to the principles of the circular economy. All these logistics operations are prescribed in accordance with the return policy defined beforehand. Both retailers and consumers can track the progress of the return request and the status of the refund in real time.

For merchants connected to such e-Commerce platforms as Shopify, Woocommerce, Wizishop or Prestashop, among others, the digital platform can be integrated instantly.

Ashwani Nath, Vice President e-Commerce at GEODIS, said: “Following the success of the range of GEODIS eLogistics solutions dedicated to the customer experience from order management through to delivery, we wanted to work on the after-sales experience, which is a crucial element in customer satisfaction. We are now offering an integrated end-to-end technological and eLogistics solution that has no equivalent on the market.”

Eddy Richauvet, CEO of ShopRunBack said: “It is an honor for us to have been selected by GEODIS to support them in returns management as part of their global e-Commerce strategy. This decision recognizes ShopRunBack’s expertise in reverse logistics and demonstrates the maturity of our technology, which our merchants have been using for over 7 years.”

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a global network spanning nearly 170 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.4 billion in sales.

SHOPRUNBACK – www.shoprunback.com

SHOPRUNBACK is a pioneering platform for optimizing and facilitating the e-Commerce returns process. Ever since its launch in 2014, SHOPRUNBACK has changed how brands and retailers manage returns by introducing a unique technology solution to connect all levels of the value chain for returns, making the reporting process easy for consumers by applying it to an omnichannel strategy in response to the growing challenges of reverse logistics.

Global logistics player eyes strong growth in Asia Pacific (APAC) through strategic expansion of its fixed schedule network

GEODIS, a global leading transport and logistics services provider, is extending its AirDirect service with the addition of a twice weekly flight routed London Stansted (STN)/Amsterdam (AMS)/ Hong Kong (HKG)/STN/AMS. With the new schedule coming into effect from October, GEODIS’ APAC customers will have access to almost 80 percent of European destinations within 24 hours. This new investment underscores the company’s enhanced focus on the APAC region and its commitment to serve a greater range of business verticals in Asian markets. GEODIS will in part use its new A330-300 full freighter aircraft to operate this rotation between Europe and Asia.

As manufacturing in Asia continues to be the backbone of several key European business sectors, the requirement for exporters to secure reliable and well-priced freight forwarding services has become even more critical through the disruption brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak. The new route launch comes on the heels of the introduction of GEODIS’ Shanghai to Guadalajara flight in March this year, which has improved cargo connectivity to the West Coast of the Americas. GEODIS also continues with its dedicated service from Hong Kong to Guadalajara.

The new flight will also help expand GEODIS’ operations in Asia with increased connectivity, aiming to build on its existing customer base consisting of pharmaceutical, high tech, and retail clients. The new service will offer all the existing AirDirect options of AirFast, AirFlex, and AirSave services with much needed guaranteed capacity.  

“The strength of our network in Europe plays a critical role in driving our growth in APAC. Opening up new and in-demand routes to better address our customers’ needs is a pivotal element of our aim to increase our footprint in growth markets,” said Onno Boots, President and Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific, GEODIS. “Our business in APAC has seen steady and significant growth over the past few years and therefore we want to add more routes into our current network.”

The new route will connect more locations in the APAC region to markets in Europe and the Americas by leveraging GEODIS’ road network in Asia. This network plays an important role in the company’s business growth in Southeast Asia. GEODIS’ cross-border trucking operations offer scheduled departures for consignments along the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok axis, with multi-modal gateway services beyond these hubs. 

“While taking care of our customers’ priorities across the region, it’s very important for us, as a recognized service provider to factor in the demands of end users, who are comprised of high tech, automotive, and industrial customers,” said Chris Cahill, Managing Director, North Asia Sub-Region at GEODIS. “Having our own network combined with our recently expanded logistics facilities gives us unparalleled security and end-to-end control over every aspect of the operation, maintaining optimal conditions for the cargo, but also ensures our customers enjoy reliable capacity for moving supply parts to production facilities or finished goods to their destinations.”

Additional images can be accessed here: https://geodis.keepeek.com/bMNkIv13f

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a global leading transport and logistics services provider recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a global network spanning nearly 170 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.4 billion in sales.

Global leading supply chain operator GEODIS is acquiring 21.5 hectares of land at Trade Port Noord from Greenport Venlo. Here, GEODIS plans to build one of the most sustainable logistics facilities in the Netherlands: a 130,000m2 contract logistics site servicing customers from various vertical sectors and designed to accommodate the current growth in e-commerce.

The Venlo region is one of Europe’s prime spots for logistics activities, located near the Dutch border with Germany, acting as a link between the nearby air and seaports of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp with the major industrial markets of the continent.

“Trade Port Noord has excellent connections to the European multimodal infrastructure via road, river, rail, ocean and air. This makes it the ideal location for GEODIS to operate cargo flows for international clients, and to manage their warehousing and logistics needs utilizing our European distribution network – and to expand our Benelux-Germany-Poland corridor at the same time”, says Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO of GEODIS.

The construction of the new facility will start in 2022. GEODIS is committed to protect the environment and ensure the well-being of its employees.This new build will be designed to standards aimed at a BREEAM “outstanding” certification, and a WELL Silver certification. BREEAM is a world-known sustainability assessment method for buildings[i]; WELL is an international standard for creating spaces that enhance human health and well-being[ii].

“Health and safety of our employees have always been our first priority – already before the COVID 19 pandemic, and still today”, says Marie-Christine Lombard. “In the same spirit, the GEODIS logistics campus in Venlo will be one of the very few logistics buildings in the world with a WELL certification.”

To ensure all standards for the desired certifications will be in place, GEODIS has involved real estate services and investment company CBRE, advising on the land acquisition and project management.

“The new GEODIS campus is not only impressive in size, but it is also ambitious. To achieve the highest possible BREEAM-rating, we will pay attention to every detail in both design and material use, as well as design various energy saving systems”, says Tim Habraken, Sustainability Director at CBRE.

[1] Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for master planning projects, infrastructure and buildings . It recognises and reflects the value in higher performing assets across the built environment lifecycle, from new construction to in-use and refurbishment. 

¹¹ The WELL Building Standard is a vehicle for buildings and organizations to deliver more thoughtful and intentional spaces that enhance human health and well-being. Backed by the latest scientific research, WELL includes strategies that aim to advance health by setting performance standards for design interventions, operational protocols and policies and a commitment to fostering a culture of health and wellness. 

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a global leading transport and logistics services provider recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a global network spanning nearly 170 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.4 billion in sales.