Brussels, 27 May 2016

Fuel efficiency standards for heavy-goods vehicles in Europe would save billions for businesses, lead to cheaper goods, protect the environment and boost energy independence, 19 global brands, logistics companies and green organisations, including IKEA, Nestlé, Philips, DB Schenker and Deutsche Post DHL have told European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker. Simply monitoring truck CO2 emissions would not be sufficient to kick start the market for ultra-fuel efficient trucks in Europe, they wrote in a letter that called for post-2020 fuel efficiency for new trucks and trailers.

Road transport currently accounts for one-fifth of Europe’s carbon emissions, and while trucks make up less than 5% of all vehicles on the road, they are responsible for 25% of road transport’s fuel use and carbon emissions. Meeting the EU’s 2030 climate targets as well as the more challenging targets of the Paris climate deal will require major efforts in the road freight sector, the companies and organisations said.

Bart Vandewaetere, Nestlé’s Assistant-Vice President Relations with European Institutions, said: “Nestlé is working, together with our supply chain partners, to cut fuel consumption and GHG emissions from transport by another 10% by 2020 (versus 2014), on top of already made reductions. We do this by efficiency optimisations such as routing, avoiding of empty runs and using at maximum the available vehicle capacities. Increasing the fuel efficiency of trucks will give the transport industry the required boost to further reduce overall CO2-emissions after 2020, when most of the other options have been fully exploited.”

It costs about €35,000 per year to fuel tractor trailers – costs which are then passed on to consumers through higher-priced products. Realising the 35% cost-effective potential for truck fuel efficiency improvements could save businesses up to €10,000 per year, per truck, while avoiding 37 million tonnes of carbon being emitted annually by 2030. This would help big shippers, freight forwarders and hauliers to scale up their voluntary emissions reduction commitments and help the EU meet its ambitious climate goals.

Ewald Kaiser, CEO of DB Schenker Region Europe and Member of the Board Land Transport, said: “Political framework decisions should provide balanced incentives for best-in-class performers in order to drive innovation.”

William Todts, freight director at sustainable transport group Transport & Environment, said: “Commissioner Cañete has said truck CO2 standards are essential and he’s right. More fuel efficient trucks will save hauliers money, boost the economy and protect the environment. It’s time for the Juncker Commission to follow the example of the US, China and Japan and set ambitious truck fuel economy standards.”

The letter calls on the European Commission to make a proposal to introduce standards within the next two years.