Sustainable shipping – how to optimise your shipping to be environmentally friendly and efficient
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in logistics. Driven by growing customer expectations, stricter regulatory requirements and a heightened sense of responsibility, environmentally friendly shipping is becoming an integral part of modern supply chains.
But sustainable logistics is not a given: B2B companies must balance environmental measures with economic efficiency, especially with rising costs, more complex shipping processes and the selection of suitable shipping solutions and routes.
What exactly does ‘sustainable shipping’ mean for your company?
Sustainable shipping is much more than just a green sticker on a package. For B2B companies (and e-commerce companies), it’s about the entire process – from environmentally friendly packaging and reducing CO₂ emissions to using climate-neutral shipping solutions. The goal is to combine ecological responsibility with economic sense without sacrificing efficiency.
The three pillars of sustainable shipping at a glance:
- Ecological: Reduce emissions, reduce packaging waste and make the entire supply chain more sustainable.
- Economic: Optimise processes, reduce costs in the long term and minimise transport risks at the same time.
- Social: Promote fair conditions along the supply chain; this pays off in terms of the company’s image.
Important: Sustainability is not just about offsetting, but above all about avoiding and reducing. Transparency and measurability are crucial, both for our shipping service providers and within our own company.
Why should you switch to sustainable shipping now?
A sustainable shipping strategy not only brings you long-term benefits, it also has a positive impact on your business in the short term.
The advantages of an environmentally friendly shipping strategy:
- Stronger brand reputation & customer loyalty, meeting the expectations of business partners.
- Cost reduction through more efficient transport routes and shipping methods at pre-negotiated conditions.
- Compliance with regulatory requirements and better positioning with regard to upcoming CO₂ taxes or legal requirements such as the Supply Chain Act.
- Employee motivation & employer branding, strengthening the brand and creating trust as a modern, responsible employer.
- Active risk management through reduced dependence on fossil fuels actively adapts companies to the effects of climate change.
- Contribution to climate protection through reduced CO2 emissions and resource-saving shipping materials.
The core areas of sustainable shipping: packaging, transport and processes
Sustainable packaging: more than just recycled materials
Packaging is much more than just an accessory; it is a key lever for greater sustainability in shipping. Environmentally friendly, ecological and resource-saving packaging not only reduces waste and conserves valuable raw materials, but also signals responsibility.
Strategies for sustainable shipping packaging:
Renew: Use of renewable raw materials (e.g. compostable filling materials, bioplastics, etc.) and their correct disposal.
Reduce: Material savings through tailor-made product packaging and the avoidance of excessive packaging.
Reuse: Use of reusable materials and reusable shipping solutions.
Recycle: Use of recycled materials (e.g. grass cardboard, recycled paper) and recyclable materials.
LetMeShip itself is not a packaging manufacturer, but indirectly supports its customers through the targeted selection of climate-friendly courier, express and parcel service providers and flexible, environmentally friendly shipping options. Upon request, our customers receive free shipping materials, such as shipping bags.
Climate-neutral shipping and reduction of CO2 emissions in transport
Transport is one of the largest sources of emissions in logistics and therefore a key area for action to achieve greater sustainability. The aim is to significantly reduce CO2 emissions along the supply chain and, ideally, to ship in a climate-neutral manner. Our shipping service providers, including DHL, UPS, FedEx, DPD and TNT, are committed to this goal in various ways and offer solutions such as alternative drive systems, optimised route planning and investments in green technologies to reduce CO2 emissions.
Measures to reduce emissions:
- Low-emission means of transport (e.g. rail for long distances) or electric vehicles for the last mile.
- Route optimisation and consolidation of shipments.
- Ambitious sustainability programmes by carriers, such as investment in alternative drive systems or green energy.
CO2 compensation: What does climate-neutral shipping through compensation mean?
Climate-neutral shipping is not just about avoiding or reducing emissions, but also about offsetting unavoidable emissions through CO₂ compensation. This means that the emissions generated by transport are neutralised by investments in certified climate protection projects, such as reforestation, renewable energies or social environmental projects.
Reduction vs. compensation: What is the difference?
| Reduction | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|
| Ziel | Avoid or directly reduce emissions | Offset unavoidable emissions |
| Measures | Within our own supply chain: route optimisation, electric vehicles, shipment bundling, switch to rail transport | Support for external, certified climate protection projects: reforestation, investment in renewable energies, methane reduction in developing countries |
| Impact | More effective in the long term, as it contributes directly to avoiding emissions | Helpful in the short term to neutralise currently unavoidable emissions |
| Priority | Sustainable optimisation of internal processes always comes first | Supplementary measures for CO2 accounting only make sense if reduction potential has already been exploited |
Important: Compensation does not replace reduction – it is a supplementary measure when all internal options have already been exhausted.
Example of a reduction with DHL GoGreen Plus
With the DHL GoGreen Plus service, LetMeShip offers a shipping option that actively contributes to reducing CO₂ emissions. By using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) – a sustainable aircraft fuel made from renewable resources – emissions in air transport can be reduced by up to 80%. This service helps companies reduce their Scope 3 emissions.
Optimising sustainability in transport and logistics processes
Efficient shipping processes are key to protecting the environment and achieving greater sustainability. This is not just about reducing CO₂ emissions, but also about holistic optimisation along the entire supply chain: from the supplier to warehousing to delivery to the customer. We distinguish between measures implemented by shipping service providers and those that companies can influence themselves in their logistics and ordering processes, such as connecting suppliers or implementing intelligent product and return strategies.
Optimisation potential for shipping service providers
- Avoid empty runs through better route planning and utilisation
- Use of low-emission means of transport (e-vehicles, rail, etc.)
- Consolidation of shipments for more efficient shipping
- Use of alternative fuels and green energy
- Transparent tracking and CO₂ measurement per shipment
- Expansion of climate-neutral shipping options
How LetMeShip supports you on your way to more sustainable shipping
LetMeShip is your expert partner for sustainable transport logistics. Our multi-carrier shipping platform with numerous renowned shipping partners and shipping services simplifies the selection and booking of environmentally friendly shipping options.
Specific advantages and features when booking with LetMeShip
- Transparent comparison: Direct overview of sustainable shipping rates and options (already integrated in the selection, if available) from different carriers for parcel delivery.
- Increased efficiency: Optimised booking processes reduce administrative effort and errors, which indirectly also conserves resources.
- Multi-carrier strategy: Option to select the service provider that best suits the respective shipment and sustainability requirements
- Support in selecting sustainable shipping packaging (indirect): Transparent display of volume weights and carrier requirements allows the need for optimised packaging to be identified
Practical steps: How can you start sustainable shipping right away?
Getting started with sustainable shipping doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. Even small measures can quickly have a big impact – and reveal where there is still potential for improvement.
Checklist for getting started:
- Analyse the status quo: Where are you currently? What packaging do you use? How high are your emissions (rough estimate)?
- Define your goal: What do you want to achieve (e.g. increase the proportion of recycled packaging or only use certain carrier services)?
- Rethink your packaging: Review your product packaging. Are there smaller box sizes available? Can you switch to recycled materials?
- Raise awareness among your team: Train your employees in purchasing and shipping.
- Check transport options: Use platforms such as LetMeShip to identify and compare sustainable shipping rates.
- Communicate your commitment: Inform your customers and partners about your efforts to achieve sustainable shipping.
The future of shipping is green: trends in sustainable logistics
Sustainability is becoming the new standard. The circular economy is gaining relevance – through reusable packaging or bundling deliveries. New concepts such as city hubs, e-deliveries and AI-supported route planning are providing further impulses. At the same time, digitalisation is ensuring greater transparency and measurable emission savings along the entire supply chain.
An inspiring example of circular economy: The milkman concept – a delivery concept in procurement logistics.
Take the next step: Sustainable shipping with LetMeShip
Sustainability is not a trend, but a necessity and an opportunity. LetMeShip is your strong partner in making your shipping easier, more future-proof and more environmentally friendly.
Request a personal consultation now or try out our platform to discover the benefits of sustainable shipping for yourself.
We look forward to your enquiry.
FAQs on sustainable shipping
Not necessarily. Material savings, optimised processes and the avoidance of future costs (e.g. CO2 taxes) can offset the additional costs of certain sustainable options. In the long term, it is often even cheaper. LetMeShip helps you find cost-efficient sustainable shipping options.
All major carriers in the LetMeShip portfolio, such as DHL (GoGreen Plus), GLS (KlimaProtect), UPS (Carbon Neutral and SmartEnergy Solutions) offer corresponding programmes. You can easily compare and book these options, if available for your shipment, via LetMeShip.
Use lower-emission modes of transport, optimised packaging, consolidated shipments and choose climate-neutral shipping options and transport routes from carriers.
Material reduction (correct size), high recycled content, good recyclability, reusability where possible. However, when it comes to reusability, the safety of your goods should not be compromised over longer distances.
We support you with our multi-carrier shipping platform by providing a transparent overview of sustainable shipping options from various carriers and making them easy to book. Additional booking functions shorten the entire business shipping process. This reduces costs and conserves resources within the company.
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