[FR] FRET 21: select shippers committed to the environment

According to the latest figures from the French Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition (2021), greenhouse gas emissions from transport in France account for 30% of total emissions.

In view of these figures, the French government is launching a number of schemes to help businesses accelerate their ecological transition. One of them is FRET 21.

Find out everything you need to know about this scheme here, as well as the keys to choosing environmentally committed hauliers for your business.

What is FRET 21?

FRET 21 is an initiative that companies can join on a voluntary basis to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and atmospheric pollutants linked to the transport of goods.

The scheme is part of the EVE (Engagements Volontaires pour l’Environnement) programme. This is a programme dedicated to shippers, freight forwarders, goods and passenger transporters, to help them become part of the energy and environmental transition.

FRET 21 was created by the French Ministry for Ecological and Solidarity Transition, ADEME and the Association of Freight Transport Users (AUTF).

The areas for action under the scheme

The FRET 21 scheme provides for four areas of action to enable participating companies to reduce their CO2 emissions.

These areas concern :

Loading rates. This includes measures to ensure that transport vehicles are more fully loaded, to limit empty vehicles and empty journeys.
Distance travelled. These actions enable a reduction in the number of kilometres travelled by hauliers, in particular through better positioning of logistics sites, the implementation of supply and delivery loops, or the deployment of a Transport Management System (TMS).
Means of transport. For road transport, this involves promoting the use of cleaner lorries (running on biogas, for example), or training teams in eco-driving. But FRET 21 is also promoting green modes of transport for last-mile delivery (bicycles and electric vehicles), as well as reducing the environmental impact of companies by using other, less polluting modes of transport (river, sea and rail transport).
Responsible purchasing. This involves, for example, companies selecting road hauliers who have been awarded the “Objectif CO2” label, or monitoring the calculation of their greenhouse gas emissions.

How does a company become involved in FRET21?

It all starts with an initial self-assessment.

The company fills in an online form, in which it declares :

The balance sheet of its current greenhouse gas emissions
Its GHG emission reduction targets
The actions already taken to reduce them
Its CSR positioning (internal communication, relations with customers and suppliers, etc.)

The company then implements a personalised three-year action plan, together with a quantified target. It can then be supported by project managers dedicated to its project, as well as by methodological tools designed to develop its eco-responsibility. Depending on the size of the company, it may be eligible for subsidies to help implement the action plan.

A review is scheduled at the end of each year to analyse progress towards the objectives.

4 examples of companies involved in the scheme

To date, more than 350 companies have signed up to the FRET 21 scheme.

Among them, there are three major examples:

Michelin. The tyre leader’s objective is to put 15,150 fewer vehicles on the road each year, saving 12,500 tonnes of CO2e. This target corresponds to a 15% reduction in CO2 emissions from all its logistics operations between 2018 and 2030.
MAPEI. A leader in the construction industry, MAPEI has already reduced its CO2 emissions by 9% between 2018 and 2019 – a saving of just over 500 tonnes of CO2 emissions. To achieve this, it relies on a well thought-out inter-site transport plan.
Nestlé France. The Group has met and even exceeded its 2022 target, reducing its GHG emissions by 11.2% in two years. It has also renewed its commitment for 2025.
RAJA. Our group joined the FRET 21 scheme in 2022, with the aim of reducing its carbon emissions by 28% by the end of 2024. What are the keys to achieving this? Replacing our fleet of trucks with bio-gas-powered vehicles, optimising the kilometres travelled by our carriers, and choosing partners committed to eco-responsible programmes. These commitments have enabled us to achieve our target ahead of schedule, from 2023, with a 29% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, or 560 tonnes of CO2.

How do you choose environmentally committed transporters?

If you use an outsourced transport company for your business, it is now crucial to pay attention to the environmental impact of your service providers.

To choose an eco-responsible carrier, you can rely on the labels they have been awarded, or the ecological charters they have signed. The FRET 21 scheme is just one of many – you can also check whether they have obtained the Objectif CO2 label, or the ESG “Responsible Transport & Logistics” label, for example.

The key to choosing a carrier with a limited carbon impact? Issue a call for tenders for transport services that includes eco-responsibility as a criterion.

There are a number of factors that can play into the hands of your potential service providers in terms of their commitment to the environment:

A fleet of clean road vehicles
Drivers trained in responsible driving
The use of eco-responsible modes of transport (such as bicycles, cargo-cycles or rail transport)
Optimised transport plans to limit the number of kilometres travelled
A system for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions
Genuine transparency on the company’s carbon footprint
Clear communication on its CSR programme…

It’s up to you to compare the different offers, without neglecting the quality of delivery proposed for your customers and the budget you wish to allocate to your goods transport.