Life Below Earth Booklet - Flipbook - Page 19
TRANSPORTATION
SHIPPING AND
EMISSIONS
Pollutants come in many forms, with air, water, and land being the primary areas a昀昀ected
by atmospheric pollution. Additional sources, driven by excessive human activity, include
light, noise, and plastic pollution. Transport is the largest emitting sector of GHG in the UK
producing an estimated 26% of the country’s total emissions. It is a signi昀椀cant component
of all business logistical operations, directly impacting both e昀케ciency and environmental
sustainability. Investigating greener alternatives for both inbound and outbound logistics is a
key step for businesses when tackling their carbon footprint and impact on ecosystems.
Air, sea and road are the core modes of transport used everyday by businesses around
the world. Looking at SMI’s 2023 emissions inbound and outbound logistics contributed to
3.4% of our total corporate footprint totaling 1,432 tCO2e, with over 95% of our products
transported via freight shipping. As part of our commitment to prevent biodiversity loss and
reduce pollution we work with a freight shipping company dedicated to sustainability.
Looking at shipping it is estimated that a cargo vessel emits 190 decibels of noise which
is louder than a jet engine during take-o昀昀 and with noise travelling faster through water
this mode of transport is a massive source of noise pollution for the marine life under the
oceans. Yet, shipping or road transportation are still more sustainable options compared
to air freight which is a more carbon intensive mode of transport. Air freight generates an
estimated 80 times more carbon emissions compared to freight containers which emit on
average 10-40 grams of CO2e per kilometre.
It is estimated that
706 million
gallons of oil enter the ocean every year
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