Fast shipping. Responsible choices.
Our sustainability strategy
time:matters is a provider of emergency and supply-chain logistics. Our business model addresses time-critical needs around the world, and we are proud to offer a service that can sometimes be a matter of life and death.
Still, we recognize that our transport solutions have an impact on the environment. This is why we find it essential to minimize our carbon footprint.
We want to develop our business in a lean and sustainable direction, so that our actions have the least possible impact on the environment. The earth should remain a viable place for us and the generations to come.
Steps towards a CO2-neutral future
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is the generic term for all aviation fuels that are produced without the use of fossil raw materials such as crude oil or natural gas.
SAF is produced by converting carbon from biomass (like cooking oil, waste fats or sustainable gases) into jet fuel, thus forming a CO2 cycle.
Currently, SAF is more expensive than conventional jet fuel due to lower demand and limited production capacities. As demand increases, efficiencies in production could help lower costs.
If customers book a shipment with us and decide to buy SAF, we procure the sustainable fuel via the Lufthansa Group, leading to a CO2 reduction within six months of acquisition.
Avoidance
Less is more – especially when it comes to CO2 emissions.
Avoidance is a proactive approach to reducing emissions and waste. Rather than trying to mitigate the effects of emissions and waste after they have been created, avoidance seeks to prevent them from being created in the first place.
That’s why we are switching our energy contracts to green options, drastically reducing our paper consumption, and replacing incandescent light bulbs with LEDs in our facilities.
From an operational perspective, we are continuously enhancing our processes, optimizing routing, enforcing our sustainability requirements, and fostering collaboration with environmentally friendly partners.
As of today, we can offer a 100% environmentally friendly solution with our exclusive Sameday Rail service. For Sameday Air shipments, we provide biodegradable bags. Already in 2017 we began converting the apron fleet at our Courier Terminals to electric vehicles. Currently, time:matters Courier Terminals in Frankfurt, Munich and Shanghai use electric or hybrid cars on the apron.
Inset
Insetting aims to reduce emissions within operations, focusing on initiatives like using sustainable biofuels and enhancing energy efficiency.
Our main approach to insetting our emissions involves investing in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and prioritizing airlines that utilize biofuels.
Since 2022, time:matters has been investing in Sustainable Aviation Fuel and will continue to do so as part of our commitment to climate protection.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil fuels. However, improvements in production and distribution are needed for complete carbon neutrality. Research continues to neutralize emissions, and technologies such as Power to Liquid and Sun to Liquid are currently being developed.
Offset
Offset is a strategy that aims to compensate for emissions that cannot be avoided or reduced.
Offsetting is crucial for balancing our emissions and aiding sustainability initiatives globally. By investing in projects like forest conservation, clean cooking solutions, and the restoration of moorlands, we can positively impact the environment and communities.
By offsetting emissions, businesses, and individuals can help to compensate their environmental impact and support sustainability efforts around the world.
Awareness
We recognize that we all face similar challenges and that we can overcome them by working together. It is essential for us to engage our employees, partners and customers to work together toward a sustainable future.
To support our customers on their compliance journey, we offer a customized dashboard and report detailing your emissions, which can be delivered at flexible intervals or via API.
Our Key Account Managers and Sustainability Manager are available to discuss your sustainability ambitions and explore how we can assist you.
ISO 14001 certification demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship, providing a framework for assessing our impact and developing a plan for continuous improvement.
How do we calculate carbon emissions?
The Squake emissions calculator quantifies the direct and indirect, so-called “well to wheel” (WTW) emissions in CO2-equivalent (CO2e). The estimated emissions represent an average value for the distance from starting point to destination. The calculated emissions per transport account for the amount of CO2e invested in climate protection projects.
Emission calculations and assumptions are in line with GLEC framework and the European standard DIN EN16258.
Various standardized methodologies exist to calculate your carbon footprint. The most known being the Green House Gas (GHG) Protocol, GLEC Framework, DIN EN 16258.
Our emissions are divided through 3 scopes:
- Scope 1 & 2 are our own emissions. They are calculated as per the GHG Protocol once the year is passed.
- Scope 3 represents our core business (our transport solutions) and are directly calculated via an API by our partner Squake.
Due to our intermodal transportation and dedicated drives services, we cannot apply only one methodology to our logistics chain.
We are currently using the following frameworks:
- DEFRA for the On Board Courier shipments
- GLEC for shipments via our Sameday Air network and Next Flight Out (NFO) solutions
- ACRISS for the Sameday Road transports
These methodologies allow us to provide the most accurate emission calculation that matches our unique and customized services.
Sustainability Development Goals of the UN
The United Nations (UN) has set out 14 Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) as part of its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These goals, which were adopted by all UN member states in 2015, provide a blueprint for action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all.
We contribute to 14 Sustainable Development Goals by focusing on sustainability in our business practices. We prioritize being environmentally friendly in order to minimize our impact on the earth.
