Ekeri introduces biogas for its maritime transports
Having already reduced its carbon footprint by shifting from road to sea freight, Finnish trailer and truckbody manufacturer Ekeri is further cutting its CO₂ emissions by introducing biogas in its maritime transports in collaboration with WALLENIUS SOL.
Determined to promote a sustainable transport industry, trailer and truckbody manufacturer Ekeri envisions creating opportunities to transport goods in a more sustainable and cost-effective way. For some time now, the company has leveraged the competitive advantage of shipping goods with WALLENIUS SOL from the Port of Pietarsaari – only 20 kilometers from the factory – instead of transporting trailers by road to southern Sweden. Simply by shifting from land to sea transport, this approach has reduced carbon emissions about one tonne per trailer. Now, the manufacturer is taking yet another step towards sustainability by introducing biogas in its maritime transport in collaboration with WALLENIUS SOL.
“The majority of our emissions come from the materials we purchase and use in production. Even though the logistics chain is not where we leave the largest footprint, we still want to take responsibility where we can,” says Daniel Asplund, Sustainability and Aftersales Manager, Ekeri. “Instead of throwing money at environmental taxes like the ETS, we can support the transition by using a more environmentally friendly fuel.”
By purchasing a share of biogas for its sea transports from Port of Pietarsaari to Germany, Ekeri benefits from an ISCC-certified product that meets strict sustainability and traceability standards.
Optional biogas percentage
Using the mass balance principle, WALLENIUS SOL customers can select the proportion of LBG relative to their fuel consumption – from 10, 25, 50, 75, to 100 percent biogas. Recognising the benefits, Ekeri embraced the offer.
“Beginning with ten percent biogas was a straightforward first step that didn’t affect our customers' prices. Going forward, our ambition is to accelerate the share of LBG in our transports, says Daniel Asplund.
“When there are greener alternatives available, I think we should use them instead of fossil fuels. Reducing Europe's dependence on fuel imports by using fuels that we can produce domestically is also an aspect,” he says.
Rebecca Tagaeus, Sustainability Manager at WALLENIUS SOL, believes reducing environmental impact is a collaborative effort.
“At our own expense, we will under 2025 start blending a small amount of biogas into our fuel mix, and by enabling our customers to choose the proportion of biogas they wish to use, we facilitate a gradual transition away from fossil fuels. Even a small step today is better than no step at all,” she says.
I firmly believe that those who take action now will reap the benefits later”
Renewable fuel
There is a growing demand from companies striving to meet climate targets and transition to renewable fuels. At the same time, it is a fact that fossil-free fuels, such as biogas (LBG), biodiesel (HVO), and e-methanol, are generally more expensive than fossil fuels. However, for Ekeri, there was never really any doubt about which path to take when WALLENIUS SOL offered them to Lighten the Load* by choosing a renewable fuel.
“Ekeri has been around for 80 years, and we are committed to investing in the future. I firmly believe that those who take action now will reap the benefits later,” says Daniel Asplund.
He concludes:
“Humankind has put itself in this situation, and now we have to face the reality and pay the price if we want to prevent this temperature rise from becoming a reality.”
About Ekeri
Ekeri makes climate-smart trailers, semi-trailers and truck bodies with side-opening. It specialise in user-friendly transport solutions, optimised to suit the customer’s needs and designed to maximise the productivity of customer operations.
* Lighten the Load
Telling a shipping customer to 'lighten the load' might seem odd. But in this case, we’re talking about lightening our impact on the planet, without compromising the reliability and efficiency of our shipments.
When you book a transport with WALLENIUS SOL, you have a choice. You can purchase the full amount of biogas (LBG) to cover your freight's consumption – or opt for a percentage share. The more LBG you buy the more we add. It’s simple math.
