'GFA Label' plan aims to cut trucking fumes

Currently, trucks account for only 9 per cent of all vehicles on Asian roads, but are responsible for 54 per cent of road-going carbon-dioxide emissions.

Successfully applying for the GFA Label is the first step for freight carriers and shippers in officially gaining green credentials. For the carriers, an improvement in fuel efficiency and the subsequent reduced costs bring benefits not only for their organisations, but also for their customers.

Under the programme, shippers can log into the GFA membership database and select a carrier based on its GFA Label rankings. The carriers are then ultimately rewarded for their environment-friendly practices, providing them with a genuine incentive to attain the GFA Label.

The rankings are determined by the organisations’ commitment to adopting green freight practices, with the GFA Label consisting of four distinct tiers of recognition.

A company that attains one "leaf" has successfully demonstrated a minimum commitment to adopting green freight practices, while a company that has attained four leaves has demonstrated itself as a true sustainability leader, with an outstanding commitment.

Companies of all sizes, no matter where they are in the supply chain, are encouraged to apply and become a benchmark organisation within their industry.

"We believe the implementation of the GFA Label will be a catalyst for change. We can not only improve our businesses and environment, but also how the public perceives our industry," said Stephan Schablinski, chief executive officer of Green Freight Asia.

Freight and trade efficiency, in conjunction with positive environmental impacts, will benefit all sides, Schablinski said.

"Shippers will be provided with more efficient access to services from their carriers, with smaller footprints on the environment in which their consumables are being transported. They will also be trading in an environment where they know they are being provided services that are of best practice."

GFA ran a trial late last year for the first batch of GFA Label applications to ensure it had the right processes in place before opening it up to the wider market. A total of 48 applications from more than 30 companies were processed, with about 62 per cent of the applications receiving the GFA Label and a Certificate of Excellence.

The GFA Label was applied for across 13 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, while the organisations that successfully applied included Heineken, Ikea, DHL, Hewlett-Packard, Infineon, UPS and Lenovo.

From now on, applications can be mad through any of the three official GFA Label Assessment Partners – BSR (Business for Social Responsibility), TUV SUD and TUV Rheinland.

The GFA Label has an annual fixed cost depending on the leaf level the organisation is aiming for in a chosen country and requires a renewal every year to ensure com

pliance. Upon each renewal, organisations also have the chance to apply for the next tier up to improve their rankings.

"We want the GFA Label to become synonymous with companies and organisations that are committed to adopting innovative and sustainable road-freight practices, who are also supportive of the green freight programs and initiatives GFA is driving throughout Asia-Pacific," Schablinski said.

Green Freight Asia is an industry-led programme. GFA is incorporated in Singapore as a non-profit organisation. Green Freight Asia is also a member-driven organisation, mainly of shippers (companies that buy road transport services) and carriers (companies that own commercial vehicles for the transport of goods).