DHL has completed its first carbon neutral warehouse, and the first of its kind in the UK.
The 6,500 sq.ft site near Wakefield West Yorkshire is the location for the main distribution centre of UK communication company O2.
The transformation of this warehouse to carbon neutral status was achieved by installing a ground source heat pump for heating and cooling, and the installation of motion sensors to electric lighting systems. The warehouse also switched to a green energy tariff, which provides energy from carbon-reduced sources.
The implementation followed DHL Neutral Services' four-stage carbon reduction model of assessment, reduction, replacement and neutralisation, which resulted in 98% of the site's carbon emissions being eliminated completely and only the remaining 2% requiring offsetting via Gold Standard Certified Emission Reductions (CERs).
In total, an annual 760 tonnes of CO2 emissions were reduced and neutralised.
For O2, the supply chain is an important element to help the company reduce its carbon footprint, and the company's general manager - supply chain, Nick Lefever, said that the partnership with DHL has shown what is possible in terms of carbon reduction, and this is seen as the first of many such initiatives.
The project was implemented by DHL through its in-house carbon consultancy, DHL Neutral Services, as part of the company's GoGreen Program, which includes a commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by 30% by 2020 and improve the cost efficiency of its supply chains.
