Scania saves the planet, one truck and tree at a time

September 13, 2023

Scania Southern Africa is planting a forest: the company has announced that it will plant one tree for every customer who partners with it to drive the shift to a sustainable transport solution.

Truck manufacturers are producing trucks that emit lower emissions than ever before, but transport remains an environmental challenge in South Africa. When fossil fuels (like diesel) burn, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs). These gases are trapped in the atmosphere, causing temperatures to rise and contributing to climate change.

In South Africa, transport has been identified as the fastest growing source of GHG emissions, accounting for 10.8% of national GHG emissions. Direct emissions from the road sector account for 91.2% of these.

“Considering that our roads carry more than 70% of all goods transported across South Africa, ensuring the effects of climate change are drastically reduced is a pressing responsibility,” says Erik Bergvall, managing director of Scania Southern Africa.

As the first heavy commercial vehicle manufacturer to set science-based targets aligned to the Paris agreement, Scania – together with its sustainably minded customers – is taking collective ownership of its role in climate change.

“Already our science-based targets aim to ensure our vehicles produced in 2025 will emit 20% less carbon emissions than those produced in 2015,” says Bergvall. “To further increase efficiencies, we have introduced optimised vehicle specifications that include better powertrains and further fuel efficiencies.”

The trees will be planted in areas where they can have the most impact. Many communities in South Africa lack green spaces, while research links trees to a reduction in crime, better school performance, and improved health benefits. Every tree planted in a Scania Sustainability Pioneer’s name will help to create a healthy and sustainable community ecosystem, while ensuring these business visionaries are forever a part of the environment they are helping Scania to protect.

“The shift to sustainable transport solutions is a collective effort,” says Bergvall. “We can’t do it alone. By partnering with our Scania Sustainability Pioneers, we are working together to reduce the carbon emissions necessary to limit climate change in Southern Africa.”

Scania’s sustainable transport solutions include low emission Euro 5 vehicles, the soon-to-be-launched Scania Super with Euro 6 engines, natural gas vehicles, and zero emission Scania battery electric vehicles.

Sustainable transport solutions offer transport operators a competitive advantage. Many companies have climate-related targets and are looking for opportunities to reduce carbon emissions across their supply chains. A fleet that includes sustainable transport solutions could soon become a factor to give transport operators an advantage in competitive bids.

“By differentiating as a transport operator, with a distinct focus on people and the planet, your company engages with a sense of purpose and could attract a new customer base who prefer to do business with sustainably minded suppliers,” notes Bergvall.

The costs of inaction are steep, especially if carbon emissions continue to rise. Resilient transport interventions can significantly help to reduce future losses across the transport sector. “At Scania, we measure the climate impact from our vehicles using operational data from all our globally connected trucks and buses,” explains Bergvall. This commitment to a transparent process of tracking emissions ensures Scania and its visionary customers can play a leadership role in combatting climate change.

“We look forward to growing our Scania Southern Africa Sustainable Forest, with each tree a symbol of the on-the-ground partnership we have with our visionary customers,” enthuses Bergvall.

“By managing their operations with less climate impact than their competitors, they are paving the way for a new and sustainable transport system across Southern Africa. This is a shift that promises to deliver long-term benefits for the transport industry, society, and the environment,” he concludes.