Alex Kalmbach / TrifonenkoIvan / Shutterstock.com Voices | Responsibility Clearing The Air Promo firms have several avenues to cut carbon emissions. One of the most impactful can found in their shipping processes. By Elizabeth Wimbush IN OUR DYNAMIC INDUSTRY, sustainability is becoming increasingly important. While much attention is given to the environmental considerations of the products themselves, one significant contributor to our carbon footprint often flies under the radar: air freight. (Yes, I did just use that pun. Thank you for noticing.) For anyone looking to drastically reduce their carbon footprint, a great place to start is grasping and actively mitigating the environmental consequences of air freight. The Impact Of Air Freight Air freight, with its unmatched speed and efficiency, is one of the most carbon-intensive modes of transportation. Consider this: Air freight emits around 1.1 pounds of carbon dioxide per ton-mile, whereas shipping by sea emits only about 0.022 to 0.088 pounds of CO2 per ton-mile. That’s 12 to 50 times more carbon intensive as soon as your branded merch gets on a plane. Once products land on North American shores, we have more opportunities for positive impact. When we look at domestic freight, the carbon emissions from air freight versus truck or rail transport can vary significantly. In fact, truck and rail transport tend to have lower carbon emissions per ton-mile for domestic shipments. Riveted by this and want to learn more? Check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Fast Facts on Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions page, which provides valuable data on emissions factors for different modes of domestic freight transport. 26 • JULY 2024 • PPAI
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