Transport company Scania Southern Africa is planning to plant a forest as part of its sustainability efforts.

It has committed to plant one tree for every customer who partners with Scania to drive the shift to a sustainable transport solution.

Scania’s sustainable transport solutions include low-emission Euro 5 vehicles, the soon-to-be-launched Scania Super with Euro 6 engine and the zero-emission Scania battery electric vehicles.

Scania states that the trees will be planted in areas where they have the most impact.

“Many communities in South Africa lack green spaces. Research links trees to a reduction in crime, better school performance and improved health benefits. Every tree planted in a Scania Sustainability Pioneer’s name, will create a healthy and sustainable community ecosystem, while ensuring these business visionaries are forever a part of the environment, they are helping Scania to protect,” states the company.

“Considering that our roads carry more than 70% of all goods transported across South Africa, ensuring the effects of climate change are drastically reduced is a pressing responsibility,” explains Scania Southern Africa MD Erik Bergvall.

As the only heavy vehicle manufacturer to set science-based targets aligned to the Paris Agreement, Scania is – together with its sustainably minded customers – taking collective ownership of their role in climate change.

“Already our vehicles produced this year emit 20% less carbon emissions than those produced in 2015,” says Bergvall.

“To further increase efficiencies, we have introduced optimised vehicle specifications that include better powertrains and further fuel efficiencies.”

He adds that, when fossil fuels such as diesel burn, they release carbon dioxide. These gases are trapped in the atmosphere, causing temperatures to rise, leading to climate change. The transport sector is particularly exposed and vulnerable to impacts of natural disasters.

Climate change is expected to exacerbate future risks, as extreme weather may disrupt and damage vital connections that provide access to economic opportunities, healthcare, education and social connections.

In South Africa, the transport sector is the third-largest contributor to greenhouse-gas emissions, with most vehicles running off internal combustion engines powered by fossil fuels. Transport contributes 12% to South Africa’s total carbon emissions. Of that, freight transport is responsible for 85%.

“The shift to sustainable transport solutions is a collective effort,” says Bergvall.

“We can’t do it alone. By partnering with our Scania Sustainability Pioneers, we are working together to reduce the carbon emissions necessary to limit climate change in Southern Africa.

“The shift to sustainable transport solutions offers transport operators a competitive advantage. Many companies have climate-related targets and are looking across their supply chains for opportunities to reduce carbon emissions.”

He points out that a fleet that includes sustainable transport solutions could soon become a factor to enable transport operators to win in a competitive bid.

“By differentiating as a transport operator, with a distinct focus on people and the planet, your company engages with a sense of purpose and could attract a new customer base who prefers to do business with sustainably minded suppliers,” says Bergvall. 

The costs of inaction are steep, especially if carbon emissions continue to rise, he adds.

Resilient transport interventions can significantly help to reduce future losses across the transport sector.

“At Scania, we measure the climate impact from our vehicles using operational data from all our globally connected trucks and buses,” explains Bergvall.

This commitment to a transparent process of tracking emissions ensures Scania and its visionary customers can play a leadership role in combatting climate change.

“We look forward to growing our Scania Southern Africa Sustainable Forest, with each tree a symbol of the on-the-ground partnership we have with our visionary customers.

“By managing their operations with less climate impact than their competitors, they are paving the way for a new and sustainable transport system across Southern Africa,” says Bergvall.

A shift that promises to deliver long-term benefits for the transport industry, society and the environment.