Enviroment

Our Approach to Environmental Protection

At GLS, we care about our effect on the world around us. Every parcel and its related logistics and transport processes have an impact on natural resources and cause carbon emissions. We want to continue our mission of connecting people around the world while reducing our impact on the environment. Therefore, climate and environmental protection are central components of our sustainability activities.

We launched our group-wide environmental strategy, Climate Protect, to implement a series of initiatives to progressively reduce carbon emissions and ensure that knowledge and efforts are shared and executed across our entire international network.

Our journey to net-zero* is science-based

At GLS, we are committed to reaching net-zero* emissions in line with the Science Based Targets initiative by 2045. To meet this goal, our environmental strategy focuses on gradually reducing carbon emissions and enhancing energy and resource efficiency across GLS countries.

Find out more about our commitment

Climate Protect measures

We pool our resources and expertise to implement measures to continuously reduce our carbon emissions. This includes both emissions from our transport operations as well as emissions from our site operations, such as purchased electricity or heat for our buildings.

Electrifying our fleet

We are electrifying the transport fleet in collaboration with our transport partners. Different electric vehicles are used within the Group, such as electric vans, bikes and trucks. In addition, we also test alternative fuels and hydrogen.
Implementing alternative parcel delivery solutions

We install parcel lockers and open parcel shops to enhance transport efficiency*, deliver parcels with walkers and test alternative delivery options.
Usage of renewable energy

We are increasingly purchasing renewable electricity and installing solar panels on our buildings. Thus, 80% of GLS-operated sites in Europe already use renewable electricity.
Modernisation of our buildings

We are converting fossil heating systems to electric heat pumps to reduce carbon emissions of our buildings and we are installing charging infrastructure at our sites.

Local investments supporting environmental protection

Progressive electrification of heavy goods transportation

We are actively pursuing the electrification of heavy goods transportation throughout the GLS network. Since June 2024, GLS Germany operates an electric truck in long-distance transport between Schweinfurt and Neuenstein. In February 2024, GLS Canada received its first class 8 electric truck from Freightliner and already uses two Lion 6 trucks in their operations. Since January 2024, an electric truck commutes daily between the two GLS hubs in Paris. To support this, GLS France has outfitted the Paris-Sud hub with a 360 kW charging station, ensuring efficient charging for the electric truck. GLS Italy uses two electric trucks in their linehaul operations for parcel pick-up and parcel delivery, since November 2023. Other GLS countries continue electric truck trails.

Roadshows with Vehicle Manufactures in Germany

GLS Germany arranged a total of 11 roadshows during financial year 2024/2025 with major vehicle manufacturer such as Mercedes Benz, Ford, Iveco, Maxus, etc. in several GLS depots (e. g., in Hamburg, Dortmund, Munich, Augsburg, Potsdam, Mannheim). As a result of these events, around 400 binding orders of electric vehicles from GLS transport partners have been placed between July and October 2024, making a big contribution towards the further electrification of the last mile in Germany.

Idle Awareness Program in Canada

After successful implementation in western Canada, GLS Canada launched the Idle Awareness Program in eastern Canada in October 2024. The program reduced idle time by 11,000 hours between October 2024 and March 2025.

Renewable Electricity

In 2024, 89% of GLS-operated sites in Europe were using renewable electricity and in relation to GLS’ global electricity consumption, 80% are renewable. Further, GLS entities in Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Portugal and the Czech Republic exclusively used renewable electricity in 2024, while Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland and the Netherlands sourced over 95% of their electricity from renewable sources.

DGNB gold certification for GLS depot in Potsdam, Germany

The depot in Potsdam, Germany, is equipped with a photovoltaic system, which supplies electricity to the 70 charging points. Rainwater is collected on site and is used to irrigate the property. In September 2024, the building was awarded the Gold certification by the DGNB for its sustainable building approach.

Further information on the certification results of the GLS depot in Potsdam available here.

Coudray-Montceaux depot in France

Opened in September 2024, the Coudray-Montceaux depot in France is equipped with 1,200 photovoltaic panels, a rainwater recovery system with a capacity of 5,000 litres, and LED lighting. Additionally, the depot has 14 electric charging stations, including one supercharger for trucks.

* GLS B.V. is committed to reduce its absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2045, using 2021 as the base year. The residual emissions will be neutralized. This means the business counterbalances up to 10% of its CO2e emissions with investments in carbon removal projects outside its value chain, in line with the SBTi Net-Zero Standard . The Science Based Targets initiative commitment of GLS B.V. encompasses all affiliated companies of GLS B.V. operating under the GLS trademark.