Our Innovation Analysts recently looked into emerging technologies and up-and-coming startups working on solutions for the logistics sector. As there is a large number of startups working on a wide variety of solutions, we decided to share our insights with you. This time, we are taking a look at 5 promising green logistics solutions.
Heat Map: 5 Top Green Logistics Solutions
For our 5 top picks, we used a data-driven startup scouting approach to identify the most relevant solutions globally. The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights 5 interesting examples out of 150 relevant solutions. Depending on your specific needs, your top picks might look entirely different.
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SeaRoutes – Voyage Optimization
The unpredictability of weather and maritime conditions make voyages perilous. Moreover, the high amount of fuel consumption in rough waters, with opposing winds and high waves, incurs huge costs. However, these costs can be cut together with carbon emissions by considering weather conditions for route optimization.
Germany-based startup SeaRoutes optimizes the route for a sea journey using calculations based on historical data from voyages recorded by automatic identification signals (AIS). Their algorithm calculates the most fuel-efficient route, accounting for wind, wave, and tidal conditions, and notifies mariners to avoid specific territorial waters. It also estimates bunkering costs, fuel consumption, and carbon usage and forecasts the weather en route.
RigiTech – Cargo Delivery Drones
In last-mile delivery, irregular traffic activities and traffic jams deter the timely delivery of packages to customers. Moreover, delivery vehicles stuck in traffic produce large amounts of polluting gases and harm the environment. Drones are exciting alternatives to avoid traffic and deliver cargo to customers on time.
Swiss startup RigiTech develops drones with large payload capacities for efficient cargo delivery. Their main product, RigiOne, comes with a rectangular volume designed specifically for cargo. It can cover a range of 80 km (50 mi) in a round-trip on a single battery charge. It is built by 3D-printing biodegradable polylactic acid thermoplastic and is powered with an electrically charged battery with zero carbon dioxide emission.
NomadPower – Green Cold Chain
Temperature controlled logistics are needed to transport thermally sensitive cargo. Refrigerated vehicles, often equipped with electronic control systems to regulate temperature, fill this need. However, the refrigeration units in such vehicles rely on the engine or a diesel generator for power thereby contribute to carbon emissions.
NomadPower, a Dutch company, provides electricity connection points for trucks with cooling units. These points are placed at logistic centers, cold stores, parks, and rest areas along major European transportation routes and can be activated via their app, website or telephone. These charging ports help transporters reduce refrigeration costs, CO2 emissions, and noise pollution.
Blubirch – Reverse Logistics
As consumers have started to become environmentally conscious, the demand for recycling and disposal mechanisms has grown. There is a close connection between reverse logistics and companies choosing to be environmentally friendly. Reusing products reduces the amount of waste generated and, in turn, the environmental footprint.
Indian startup Blubirch offers reverse logistics solutions to maximize recovery from returned, unsold, and unused technology assets for retailers, manufacturers, and enterprises. In addition to providing a platform to facilitate the buying and selling of such assets, they have been working towards the safe disposal of e-waste.
Velove – Electric Cargo Bikes
Traffic is the greatest obstacle to transporting goods within cities. Since sending out more trucks and vans to make deliveries exacerbates the problem, it is not a sustainable solution to meet the increasing demands of eCommerce. The industry needs solutions that are compatible with the existing logistics infrastructure, do not disturb the transport chain and do not add to the hassle or cost.
Swedish startup Velove manufactures a cost-efficient, high capacity e-cargo bike. The bike, Armadillo, reduces environmental impact and physical footprint and improves personal safety. It uses bike lanes and carries almost any cargo in theft-proof containers built with lightweight composite material. The low weight of the bike and shorter routes reduce energy consumption and CO2 footprint, compared to combustion engine vehicles.
What About The Other 145 Solutions?
While we believe data is key to creating insights it can be easy to be overwhelmed by it. Our ambition is to create a comprehensive overview and provide actionable innovation intelligence for your Proof of Concept (PoC), partnership, or investment targets. The 5 startups showcased above are promising examples out of 150 we analyzed for this article. To identify the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria and collaboration strategy, get in touch.
