Two leading European bottling firms – Danone Eaux France and Casbega – are working with global pallet leader CHEP to both increase efficiencies and reduce the carbon footprint associated with their respective distribution networks.
More than 1,650 truck journeys will no longer be necessary – equivalent to a saving of more than 1,000 tonnes of CO2 per year – following CHEP’s transportation agreement with Danone Eaux France.
The world’s second largest producer of bottled water, Danone Eaux France uses up to five trains a week to deliver its Evian and Volvic products from plants in Auvergne Province and the French Alps to the Daventry rail terminal in the UK.
On the return journey the trains will now be filled with some 460,000 CHEP empty pallets annually which would previously have been transported by truck. A further 240,000 CHEP pallets are being returned under a similar arrangement from the Danone’s Hockenheim and Duisbourg logistics centres to Evian in France using the return rail capacity following Danone deliveries to Germany.
Pierre-Yves Corbiere, Country General Manager, CHEP France said: “Working with Danone Eaux France is an exciting opportunity. Both CHEP and Danone Eaux France are committed to minimising the impact of our operations on the environment and we estimate that CHEP will be able to transport almost 700,000 pallets per year using these rail services.”
In Spain, Casbega, one of the country’s largest Coca-Cola bottling companies and a CHEP customer for a number of years, has a similar focus on reducing its impact on the environment.
Casbega’s plant – located near Madrid – occupies a site of 250,000m2 and serves over 68,000 distributors and retailers. It bottles 275 different products and maintains enough stock for 8 to 10 days. Customer orders can be received up to 5pm, with guaranteed next day delivery from 6am.
Casbega’s industrial and logistical director, José María Sánchez, said: “To achieve these results consistently we need reliable and committed suppliers like CHEP. The CHEP pallet is far superior to white wood pallet alternatives and allows us to optimise the efficiency of our production operations. Using sub-standard pallets only leads to problems in our highly-automated production facility.
“We eliminate waste wherever possible throughout the bottling process. In the specific area of palletisation we minimise the amount of wood used by using CHEP pallets which are continually being recycled through the supply chain.”
CHEP
Tel: +44 1932 833115
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