Although paper and wood are considered natural, their transportation cannot always be described as such. What logistics solutions should you pay attention to to work toward sustainable transportation?
Green transportation starts with green sourcing
The wood and paper industry around the world may be subject to FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) chain of custody certification. Certification by this organization confirms that a product comes from a certified forest and meets strict environmental requirements. While it is not necessary to have this document to operate in these industries, it can bring many business benefits, especially given the increased environmental awareness of today’s society.
Evaluating products before they are awarded FSC certification covers a variety of areas, including the transportation of raw materials. Offering a sustainable wood and paper transportation service can therefore establish business partnerships with investors who are keen to confirm that the process takes place with minimal environmental impact.
Challenges in transporting paper and wood
It is worth bearing in mind that cargo consisting of paper, wood, and their derivatives is one of the particularly vulnerable groups. The biggest threat here is water, as products in these categories exhibit high hygroscopicity. Contact of wood with water threatens to make it damp and increase pest activity. In the context of paper and cellulose, this primarily means swelling or mold.
From the carrier’s point of view, it comes down to the need to create the right conditions for transportation. In order for the cargo to reach its destination in an undamaged condition, it must be enclosed in packaging that is resistant to temperature fluctuations and moisture. Solutions must also be implemented to control the conditions inside the trailer or container containing the paper or cellulose. This is done with a so-called active shipping system, which allows real-time monitoring of conditions in the transport space.
Contrary to appearances, reeled paper is characterized by a much heavier weight than one might think. From this appearance, the carrier is subject to the obligation to properly secure it for transport. Strong loading straps and paper liner systems with longitudinal rails and wedges that lock the bales in one position prove to be a frequent choice here.
When it comes to transporting timber, the biggest challenge turns out to be the so-called “long timber”, i.e. lumber of an above-standard length. Its transport by road must be carried out using specialized equipment, including, for example, an extended profile trailer with an extended load or a telescopic trailer. Special attention must also be paid to packing the packages safely and loading the cargo space evenly with it. If the cargo qualifies as oversized, it is also necessary to obtain the required permits.
Logistics solutions in the service of sustainable paper and wood transportation
Given the need to maintain controlled conditions during the transportation and storage of paper, pulp, and wood, environmental goals are furthered by planning the transportation accordingly. Any change of means of transportation or temporary holding in a warehouse involves an additional human factor and the powering of systems to maintain moisture and temperature at a certain level.
It is therefore necessary to optimize the route in such a way that the cargo gets from A to B in the shortest possible time, excluding downtime that is not necessary. For this reason, door-to-door transportation by an experienced logistics partner will prove to be the most environmentally friendly here. AsstrA’s road transport should meet the expectations of even the most demanding investor.
It is also worth making sure that eco-friendly solutions are used for packaging and securing cargo. Where stretch film can be dispensed with without harming the products being transported, it should be excluded. In other cases, it is recommended to keep it to a minimum. Modern cargo securing solutions, such as dunnage bags (useful for filling the space between paper bales) or spreader bars and rods, will also prove helpful.
In the context of sustainable transportation, it is also important to remember that vehicles used for transporting wood and paper are exposed to harsh working conditions. As a result, their technical condition should be inspected more frequently than for vehicles handling lighter loads. The more efficiently a fleet operates, the lower the carbon footprint it generates.
