Customer Case

Challenge

Focchi’s commitment to sustainability necessitated a logistics partner offering solutions to reduce their transportation-related CO₂ emissions. They required a reliable partner with expertise in delivering within city centers, a proven track record of on-time deliveries, and the ability to navigate the stringent sustainability requirements of the UK construction industry. A fleet with Mega Trailers and loading possibilities from the top was also a must-have

“The UK is a very demanding market regarding sustainability and safety requirements. This is why we need sustainable 
partners with drivers with special licenses to get to the sites in crowded London or Manchester.”

Focchi’s Sustainability Focus

Focchi’s dedication to sustainability goes beyond just transportation. They employ a comprehensive approach that encompasses product design, material selection, and building performance to minimize their environmental impact throughout the entire building lifecycle. This commitment is driven by not only a sense of environmental responsibility but also by recognizing that their clients increasingly demand sustainable practices. Finally, Focchi wanted to increase the multimodality to be less based on road transportation.

ECC: The Perfect Partner

ECC’s multimodal transport solutions, combining rail and sea with road transportation, significantly reduced Focchi’s CO₂ emissions by 274,129 kg of CO₂ emissions saved in 2023 compared to traditional road-only methods. This is on average 23% CO₂ reduction. ECC’s proactive contingency planning ensured minimal disruptions and maintained on-time deliveries, which was crucial for Focchi’s efficiency. Furthermore, ECC’s commitment to sustainability ensured all their vehicles met the UK’s standards for driver certification, a minimum requirement for Focchi to access construction sites in major cities like London and Manchester.

“Initially, we were hesitant about contingency planning for a multimodal network. However, in case of disruptions in the multimodal network, ECC is very proactive and has a good impact on sorting out the problem. Now, we are more positive about the punctuality and the affordability of the multimodal delivery”

Measurable Success

The collaboration between ECC and Focchi has resulted in a demonstrably positive impact on Focchi’s sustainability goals. Here’s a closer look at the key achievements:

• Reduced Carbon Footprint: Multimodal transportation demonstrably reduced Focchi’s CO₂ emissions on the overall Outbound Logistics hotspot by 23% in 2023, a significant milestone on their path to 2050 net-zero building.
  
  “Focchi focuses on its sustainability impact. The indirect impact is more challenging to control than direct CO₂ emissions. The outbound logistics is the second hotspot for our emissions. Therefore, we focus on multimodal transportation, especially when railway and sea transportation are available. Further, we are also investigating green fuels, such as HVO fuel.”
• Unwavering On-Time Performance: ECC’s exceptional on-time deliveries ensured Focchi’s assembly line operations remained uninterrupted, preventing costly delays and disruptions.
  
  “On-time deliveries are very important in industrial industry, since each piece of the building needs to be installed in a certain week. Multimodal transport is slower, but with some good planning longer delivery time is not an issue.”
• Efficient and Adaptable Transport: Mega trailers with multi-level loading capabilities and flexible unloading options via sides and top facilitated efficient transportation of Focchi’s non-standard cargo, even in space-limited areas common in city center construction projects.
  
  “Mega trailers help us load our non-standardized sizes of cargo. Further, we unload in two ways, so trailer openings from the sides and top are necessary in busy and space-limited places. Depending on the project, we unload with a crane from the top and other times with a forklift from the sides.”
• Resource Optimization: ECC’s balanced transportation approach minimized empty journeys by returning empty racks to Focchi’s factory, promoting resource efficiency and reducing overall environmental impact.
• Exceptional Service: Focchi is satisfied ECC’s overall service quality, particularly their ability to resolve issues promptly and efficiently, ensuring a smooth and stress-free logistics experience.
  
  “We are satisfied with the service. Even if problems occur, the collaboration between people is excellent so everything is quickly solved.”

Building a Sustainable Future Together

Looking ahead, Focchi plans to leverage ECC’s CO₂ reduction certifications to further optimize their supply chain and achieve their net-zero goals. This collaborative approach positions ECC as a key partner in Focchi’s sustainability journey. By leveraging ECC’s expertise and unwavering commitment to sustainable practices, Focchi is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious environmental targets and solidify its position as a leader in sustainable construction.

“The next step for us is to gain more data on our CO₂ emission impact. We will leverage information such as ECC’s CO₂ reduction certification to optimize our supply chain.”