Trucks
A growing number of companies around the world are setting ambitious sustainability targets. This not only affects their own operations, but also their supply chains. But what impact does this have on their choice of transportation solutions?
Motivated by a combination of consumer demand, government regulations and their own commitments to social responsibility, many companies are striving towards carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions.
These targets not only cover Scope 1 emissions (direct emissions from their own operations) but also Scope 2 (indirect emissions generated from purchased energy) and Scope 3 (indirect emissions from across the value chain). Since emissions from transportation and logistics come under Scope 3, sustainability and carbon emissions are increasingly important factors in the procurement of transportation services.1
This is having consequences for logistics providers and haulage companies, where having low and zero emissions fleets can be a competitive advantage.
What transport buyers expect from their logistics partners
Four individuals, each responsible for purchasing transportation services for large companies, share what they look for in logistics partners and how sustainability demands are affecting their decisions.
Alessandro Magni
Title: Country Transport Leader
Company: Decathlon Italia
Industry: Sporting goods
Distribution network: 160 retail stores, three warehouses.
Employees: Over 8000
“All our carriers know that emissions are a key criterion in our selection process.”
Sports store chain Decathlon has over 140 retail stores across Italy, as well as 16 stories in Croatia, Slovenia and Malta. Ensuring they’re all well-supplied is the responsibility of Alessandro Magni, Country Transport Leader.
What are your biggest challenges when it comes to transport and logistics?
“Our biggest challenge is to ensure fast fulfilment and replenishment of stock in all our stores, daily. In the sporting goods industry, sales forecasts can be unpredictable and dependent on the weather, so we need to be flexible and be able to adjust our planning accordingly.”
What do you look for in a transport provider?
“Most of our stores have a very narrow time slot for when they can receive deliveries. So we are very demanding in terms of punctuality. Cost is obviously a factor when choosing a carrier, but flexibility and punctuality are important too.”
Is sustainability a factor when it comes to transport?
“Yes, we are becoming more demanding when it comes to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance). We prefer to work with carriers who already have a good share of their fleet with low environmental impact. All our carriers know that emissions is a key criterion in our selection process. They know that to have a zero or low carbon solution makes them more competitive compared to others.”
Do you use any low or zero-emission vehicles?
“In Italy, HVO is the main alternative fuel thanks to the presence of important producers and the lower excise duties imposed compared to diesel. More and more carriers even have their own HVO refueling stations at their depots, which means they can guarantee that 100% of their fleet is running on HVO. The ability of these suppliers to certify the origin of the HVO is another distinguishing factor. This is important for us because it has a positive impact on our Scope 3 emissions.
“We are interested in electric trucks and we already use them for short distances. We have started studying their possible use for longer distances too. We know that HVO will not be available on a larger scale, and it won’t meet all our needs in the long term. It is a partial or temporary solution. So, we think we’ll see more electric trucks in the medium and long term.”
Tomi Heinäaho
Title: Logistics Manager
Company: Hartwall
Industry: Beverages
Distribution network: Central warehouse in Lahti, supplying over 10,000 customers across Finland
Employees: 700
“These sustainability targets influence our every choice, including our choice of logistics suppliers.”
Hartwall is one of Finland’s largest manufacturers and distributors of beverages. As the company’s Logistics Manager, Tomi Heinäaho oversees transportation from their central warehouse to customers across the country.
What are your biggest challenges when it comes to transport and logistics?
“It is always important for us to get high-quality services. We have good partners who take care of our products and transportation to our customers.”
What do you look for in a transport provider?
“Reliable and flexible partners are important to us, so that they can respond to our needs. It is also important that suppliers have the same goals, and that together we can find solutions. For example, how do we reduce CO2 emissions?”
So, sustainability is important for your company?
“Yes, it is very important to us. Our goal is to achieve a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions across the entire value chain by 2030. These targets influence our every choice, including our choice of logistics suppliers. It is very important that they are ready to invest in low-emission trucks.”
Do you use any low or zero-emission vehicles?
“Yes, we already have electric and biogas trucks being used for transportation and we will continue to increase their usage in our logistics. We also try to support our logistic partners in making the transition. For example, we have invested in high-power truck charging stations at our factory in Lahti. When electric trucks are loading cargo, they can recharge at the same time.”
Carlo De Giorgi
Title: Transport Manager
Company: PENNY Italia
Industry: Food and retail
Distribution network: 453 stores, seven distribution centers
Employees: 5024 (65% women, 31 nationalities)
“Decarbonisation works best when approached as a strategic partnership”
With over 400 branches, PENNY is one of Italy’s leading retailers. As Transport Manager, Carlo De Giorgi needs to ensure all stores are well stocked with fresh produce, while minimizing the company’s overall environmental impact.
What are your biggest challenges when it comes to transport and logistics?
“Our main challenges are to keep costs under control while ensuring all transport runs smoothly, and to move towards more sustainable logistics without disrupting our current operations.”
What do you look for in a transport provider?
“When evaluating potential partners for transport, I first look for proven reliability and operational discipline. Consistent on‑time performance, predictable lead times, and the ability to deliver under pressure are non‑negotiable.
“Transparency is critical. In complex supply chains, timely information is as important as the physical deliveries. I value scalability and flexibility. Our environment changes quickly so I need partners who can scale capacity and adapt routes without compromising performance. Data integration is also increasingly decisive. Overall, I focus on total value rather than the lowest price, even if cost competitiveness matters.”
Is sustainability a factor when it comes to transport?
“Yes, absolutely. I look for partners who share a commitment to sustainability. This is a central pillar of our corporate strategy. We have set clear targets regarding energy, climate and resource efficiency, including the reduction of CO₂ emissions across the supply chain.
“These targets are integrated into procurement and supplier evaluation processes. We increasingly prioritise logistics providers that can demonstrate measurable reductions in emissions, provide verified sustainability data for Scope 1–3 reporting and offer low or zero-emission transport options.”
Do you use any low or zero-emission vehicles?
“Today, we already use electric trucks for city center deliveries, biomethane/LNG for regional and long-haul corridors, and HVO as a drop-in fuel to reduce emissions immediately on other routes.
“To support our partners in this transition, we commit to long-term transport volumes, which enables them to invest in low-emission vehicles. We try to optimize vehicle utilisation and route optimization, to reduce empty runs and increase efficiency. We also support the development of shared charging/refueling infrastructure where feasible and co-invest in pilot projects and innovation programs focused on decarbonisation.
“Decarbonisation works best when approached as a strategic partnership, not just a procurement requirement.”
Reducing emissions from transportation and logistics is a core part of many companies’ sustainability strategies.
Do you want to learn more about your options for low and zero-emission trucks?
If the challenges above sound familiar, and you are curious about the options when it comes to reducing the climate footprint of your business, you might be interested in reading:
1 Kevin Linger, ‘Escalent: Fleets Committed to Sustainability Amid Regulatory Changes’, 27 February 2026, Fleet Equipment, https://www.fleetequipmentmag.com/fleet-sustainability-regulatory-changes-escalent/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
