Clean power that means business

Companies are increasingly setting their own sustainability initiatives and timelines. They are placing a heavy emphasis on supply chains, which often account for a significant proportion of an organisation’s emissions.

According to the European Logistics and Supply Chain Sustainability Report:

• The most important factors driving sustainability activity are the need to meet regulatory and legislative requirements and a desire to make a positive environmental impact.
• Almost 80% of respondents say  that reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the next five years is a key focus area for their environmental initiatives

Workplace safety and the protection of employee wellbeing is critical for all organisations, especially those with staff working on or around heavy equipment in busy or tough conditions. Businesses also face increasing pressure to improve sustainability because fossil fuel emissions have serious implications for public health more broadly, beyond their own workforce and facilities.  

• Between 15% and 30% of workers are exposed to risks such as noise, vibrations, high or low temperatures according to the European Working Conditions Survey. According to OSHA, absence from work due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) accounts for a high proportion of working days lost. In 2015, 53% of EU workers with MSDs  reported being absent from work during the past year, which is considerably higher than the proportion of workers without health problems.
• Reducing emissions in accordance with the Paris Agreement could yield dramatic health benefits, including the reduction of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases related to pollution

To support sustainability initiatives, many businesses are holding suppliers to more rigorous standards.

• One major retailer that was among the first to have corporate initiatives centered solely on scope 3 emissions – those from suppliers and vendors – has cut 1 billion tons of emissions years ahead of schedule by engaging suppliers in climate action
• According to the European Logistics and Supply Chain Sustainability Report, 28% of companies include ESG targets as obligations for supply chain partners to meet in their contracts, whilst 43% include them as aspirations

Values on social issues such as sustainability are influencing the decisions of consumers and investors.

• Research showed over two-thirds of people in France, Germany, Italy and the UK who are intending to make a sustainable major purchase over the coming 12 months, also say they are willing to pay a higher price for it.
• 64% of European online adults agree that companies are responsible for protecting the environment, found research by Forrester.

Programmes and availability vary by country, but resources are available to help support the conversion to electric forklifts and other electric materials handling equipment.

Programmes to help offset the acquisition cost of electric equipment, chargers, and even infrastructure upgrades include:

• EU wide initiatives, like the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, the Just Transition Fund, and the European Regional Development Fund
• Various tax incentives across Europe, including those relating to hydrogen power
• Cap-and-trade programmes such as the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) that offer opportunities to sell excess emission allowances

Speak with your local dealer to learn more about financial incentives that may be available in your area to help you electrify your forklift fleet.