Where can the greatest CO₂ savings be made in corporate clothing?
In transport — through planning, not by cutting back. Choosing sea freight over air freight can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 95 per cent. Smart consolidation rather than half-full loads saves around 30 per cent of transport volume annually, whilst efficient supplier selection reduces emissions by up to 45 per cent per delivery. Because we carry out finishing work in-house, this also eliminates up to 3,000 kilometres of transport per order.
- By sea rather than by air
- Up to 95 per cent less CO₂
- Efficient supplier selection
- Up to 45 per cent less CO₂ per delivery
- Consolidation rather than partial loads
- Around 30 per cent less transport volume per year
- In-house finishing
- Saves up to 3,000 km of transport per order
- Prerequisite
- Lead time — air freight is usually a result of time pressure
The biggest lever is lead time
Anyone who allows for the time taken by sea transport can cut CO₂ emissions by up to 95 per cent compared with air freight. This is by far the most significant single measure — and it costs nothing apart from a bit of planning.
Air freight is almost never a technical necessity, but rather the result of a project that got off the ground too late. Good planning is therefore a genuine contribution to climate protection, not merely a side effect.
In practical terms, this means that if you know the delivery date and work backwards, you can choose your route carefully. If you only set off three weeks beforehand, you no longer have that choice.
Fully loaded lorries instead of half-full ones
The second factor is consolidation. Part-loads generate almost the same emissions as full loads — but for fewer goods.
By intelligently consolidating shipments, we reduce our transport volume by around 30 per cent each year. For our customers, this occasionally means having to wait an extra day, but it regularly results in a significantly better bottom line.
Then there is the choice of supplier: an efficient selection process reduces CO₂ emissions per delivery by up to 45 per cent — the same goods, a different route.
Why in-house finishing saves time and effort
Many suppliers have their goods printed or embroidered — so the goods are sent to the finishing contractor and back again. Because we carry out the finishing in-house, there’s no need for this detour via third parties.
For each order, this avoids transport over a distance of up to 3,000 kilometres. This is one of those cases where economic efficiency and environmental protection go hand in hand: the shorter route is also the quicker one.
What you can influence yourself
There are three decisions that are up to you, and they have a greater impact than any debate about materials: start early, bundle orders rather than placing them bit by bit, and, when it comes to textiles, prioritise durability over the lowest unit price.
Taken together, these three points account for the lion’s share of a clothing project’s overall results.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ does sea freight save compared with air freight?
Up to 95 per cent. This is provided there is sufficient lead time — air freight is usually a result of time pressure, not necessity.
What are the benefits of consolidating deliveries?
By optimising load consolidation rather than running half-full lorries, we reduce our transport volume by around 30 per cent each year.
Why does in-house finishing save on transport costs?
Because there is no need to go via an external finishing contractor. This saves up to 3,000 kilometres of transport per order.
How much difference does the choice of supplier make?
Efficient supplier selection reduces CO₂ emissions per delivery by up to 45 per cent.
What can I do myself as a customer?
Start early to ensure that sea freight remains an option, consolidate orders rather than placing them individually, and prioritise durability over the lowest unit price.