Every day it becomes clearer that the climate is changing, and that large-scale combustion of fossil fuels is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect. The transport sector is responsible for a significant share of these emissions. At Royal Den Hartogh, we recognise our responsibility to take action and lead with a forward-looking environmental policy.
As our valued customers embark on their own energy transition journeys, we understand our role in providing them with a sustainable and environmentally responsible supply chain. To fulfil this commitment, we have implemented a range of strategic measures aimed at minimising our greenhouse gas emissions.
We have set an ambitious target to reduce our CO₂ intensity per tonne-kilometre by 25% by 2025, compared with our 2019 base year. Our long-term vision aligns with the Paris Agreement, as we strive to achieve full climate neutrality by 2050.
In today’s logistics market, reaching these goals is a challenge. But with our ambition, creativity, and strong commitment to sustainable logistics, we are confident in our ability to achieve them, and to lead the way in our industry.
We continue to invest heavily in alternative fuels and propulsion methods for our trucks, such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), Liquid BioGas (LBG), and electric vehicles. Together with our suppliers, we are working to ensure that alternative fuels for deep-sea shipping become increasingly available. At the same time, we are strongly promoting the shift towards intermodal transport wherever possible. Every mode of transport we use, other than road haulage, contributes to significant CO₂ emission reductions.
View our Environmental Sustainability brochure
In pursuit of a greener future, our Scandinavian operations are already using trucks powered by Liquid BioGas (LBG). We’re already operating several electric trucks across Europe. We drive exclusively on HVO for our customers Shell and Huntsman in the Rotterdam area, and we’re making HVO available to more customers through our book and claim project. Together with our shipping partners, we’re integrating sustainable solutions into our logistics network. These actions continuously improve the efficiency of our operations, and help us reduce our CO₂ emissions year after year. This certified approach allows customers to benefit from real, traceable CO₂ reductions within Den Hartogh’s expanding network of Green Corridors, dedicated low-emission routes that connect key European hubs and demonstrate how sustainable logistics can work in practice.
Den Hartogh Logistics is committed to reporting our environmental performance to our stakeholders in an open and standardised manner. This includes EcoVadis, the Cefic SQAS assessment, and the ECTA Responsible Care CO₂ report. In our 2023 SQAS assessment, we achieved a score of 100/100 for Chapter 9: Environmental Sustainability. In addition, we actively participate in industry initiatives such as the prevention of plastic spillages through Operation Clean Sweep®. To support sustainable growth, we promote responsible management among our service providers, specifically, but not limited to, subcontractors and cleaning stations.
Safeguarding people and the environment is at the heart of our operations. We are fully committed to minimising exposure to harmful substances and to actively reducing air pollution caused by logistics activities. As a global leader in chemical logistics, we recognise the vital role we play in ensuring a cleaner, safer world.
In addition, we work to minimise waste generation, prioritise recycling, and ensure responsible disposal, all with the goal of reducing our environmental footprint and promoting a circular economy. Through these efforts, we aim to lead by example in the logistics sector, continually improving our contribution to environmental protection and sustainability.
At Den Hartogh Logistics, spills are simply not acceptable, and we work hard to prevent them altogether. Many of the substances we handle are hazardous, and any release could put our colleagues, contractors, the local community, and the environment at risk. That’s why we record every spill, no matter how small, investigate the root causes, and take both corrective and preventive actions. Each incident is seen as a learning opportunity to strengthen our controls, protect our people, and reduce the likelihood and impact of future occurrences.
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