Sustainable freight shipping
Sustainable Development
Did you know, for example, that …
- LeShuttle Freight uses 100% electric rail traction
- Today, 75% of LeShuttle Freight’s electrical consumption comes from renewable sources
- A truck crossing the Channel on our freight service emits 14 times less carbon emissions than by ferry*
- Thanks to all its activities, LeShuttle Freight avoids about 1.7 million tons of CO2e* every year
LeShuttle Freight, and more broadly the Getlink Group, are committed to ambitious decarbonization targets.
Although its greenhouse gas emissions are limited (44 ktCO2e in 2023), the Getlink Group has set reduction commitments, covering its direct emissions and those linked to its electricity consumption (scopes 1 & 2) that are compatible with the objectives of the Paris Agreement:
- A reduction of 54% by 2030 compared with 2019
- Contribution to the multi-sector net zero carbon expected by 2050
- Development of renewable energies for its electricity consumption (off-site and on-site production), optimization of the number of vehicles per shuttle, electrification of industrial equipment for tunnel maintenance and terminal vehicle fleet
- Provision of electric charging stations for refrigerated vehicles for LeShuttle Freight customers
Use our carbon counter to calculate the emission savings your company has made by using LeShuttle Freight.
The importance of sustainable freight transportation
25% of the trade between the UK and the EU is carried through the Channel Tunnel. As such a large facilitator of trade across the continent, considering our environmental impact is of the utmost importance.
Freight supply routes are the lifeblood of our economies, distributing essential produce and products across the Channel. As such, freight will only continue to grow - and we have to take our responsibility to sustainability seriously as it does so.
The next few years are absolutely critical for reversing or halting our impact on the planet. We believe that it’s the role of industry to spearhead change, and are highlighting the importance of sustainable freight transportation moving forwards.
While traditional road freight that runs on fossil fuels contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions, the shift to freight by rail (specifically, electric rail) allows for significant improvements in emissions. Consequently, the rail industry only makes up 1% of national emissions.
Rail infrastructure is inherently low-carbon; we don’t release large amounts of greenhouse gases due to our locomotives being electric-powered. A truck crossing the Channel on a LeShuttle Freight shuttle emits on average 14 times less CO2 per journey than when travelling on a ferry via Calais-Dover.
We’re also proud of our commitment thus far to leave the marine life surrounding our tunnels undisturbed, and to have created Samphire Hoe, a biodiverse green space and beach filled with over 200 species of plants, 30 species of butterflies, and 220 species of birds!
*According to a 2024 study by JMJ Conseil