Download Contargo_13.11_PR_Nachhaltigkeit_2011_ENG

Press Release 28.7.2011
For immediate publication
Page 1 of 3
Contargo gets on its bicycle
The container logistics company is taking sustainability seriously
Duisburg, July 28, 2011: “Green transport” – as a synonym for resourceconserving transports in a trimodal split – has always been a trademark of
Contargo, the specialist for container hinterland transportation. Now Contargo
has established sustainability as a cross-cutting, fundamental principle for the
development of the enterprise. “We accept our responsibilities – economic,
ecological and social. These are the fields in which we want the company to
develop on sustainable lines, and we are sure our customers will go this way
with us”, says Co-Managing Director Contargo Heinrich Kerstgens.
One key factor for sustainable success is customer satisfaction. Kerstgens:
“We continuously optimise our processes and the interfaces to our customers.
This enables us to offer top performance at market prices. We make sure that
each of our customers always has the same contact partner and this builds
positive, long term relations.”
The enterprise already has quite a few achievements to show in the field of
ecology. For instance, Contargo practises “Slow Steaming” with its fleet of
inland barges – meaning that instead of hurrying towards the terminal at full
speed, and then waiting around there to be processed, skippers receive precise time windows for processing. They then sail only as fast as is necessary
to arrive at the terminal ‘just-in-time’. This saves fuel and protects the environment. Some terminals are trying out the idea of switching to LED floodlights. Together with energy recovery from the crane drives, this will reduce
electricity consumption. Contargo continuously monitors how far it has come
towards achieving its ambitious targets, using a system of environmental key
figures.
Contact for the Press:
ViATiCO Agentur für Technik und Marketing Dipl. Ing. Joachim Tatje Bismarckstr. 17 76646 Bruchsal
Phone + 49 7251 98199 0 fax: +49 7251 98199 19 [email protected]
Press Release 28.7.2011
For immediate publication
Page 2 of 3
Thomas Löffler, also Co- Managing Director, says: “Our main concern apart
from the continuous improvement of our business processes is the wellbeing
of our 400 employees from five nations. We bring our people closer together
with transnational projects like temporary exchanges of employees from different locations, the jointly compiled Contargo Cookbook, and international
management seminars. And because the health of our personnel is important,
we are sending our employees at our Zwijndrecht site in the Netherlands to
the fitness studio on a voluntary basis.” Employees at Contargo’s locations
have now pledged themselves to go to work as often as possible on their bicycles. The sportiest Terminal Team will then be awarded an attractive prize.
Contargo is also investing substantially in promoting the younger generation,
and is targeting a trainee ratio of 10% company-wide.
The extent of Contargo’s commitment is demonstrated by the newly-formed
“Sustainable Solutions” department, with Kristin Kahl and Viktoria Krieger as
project developers. Under the motto “Green Light for Your Ideas” employees
have now been asked to contribute their own suggestions. These range from
quickly implemented saving measures, to changes in workflows and ideas for
more extensive projects, such as the exploitation of renewable energies and
the use of “green” electricity at Contargo sites.
Löffler says: “We need to keep the living organism of our enterprise in good
shape and ensure its viability. This is only possible if we and our customers
take sustainable action in the areas of cost effectiveness, environmental protection and employee satisfaction.” His colleague Kerstgens adds: “We are on
the right path, and improvement potentials can be found everywhere.”
Fig. 1: Thomas Löffler (52), Co-Managing Director of Contargo, defines sustainability as: “Doing good business with a good conscience.”
Contact for the Press:
ViATiCO Agentur für Technik und Marketing Dipl. Ing. Joachim Tatje Bismarckstr. 17 76646 Bruchsal
Phone + 49 7251 98199 0 fax: +49 7251 98199 19 [email protected]
Press Release 28.7.2011
For immediate publication
Page 3 of 3
Fig. 2: Heinrich Kerstgens (45), Co-Managing Director of Contargo, invites
customers, sea carriers, forwarders and industry to take part in the sustainability project.
Fig. 3: Transport chain, CO² comparison: Sustainable container transport in
practice: In almost any situation, a combination of barge, rail and truck performs better than direct trucking.
(All illustrations: © Contargo)
About Contargo:
With a yearly transport throughput of approximately 1 Mio TEU, Contargo is
one of the biggest container logistics networks in Europe. Contargo integrates
container transport between the western seaports, the German North Sea
ports and the European hinterland. The company has 18 container terminals
at its disposal at inland ports in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland. Contargo also operates its own inland barge and rail lines. In 2010 its
400 employees achieved an annual turnover of 190 million Euro.
Contact partner at Contargo: Heinrich Kerstgens, Contargo GmbH & Co. KG,
Shellstr. 5, 67065 Ludwigshafen, Tel.: +49 621 59007 184,
[email protected]
Contact for the Press:
ViATiCO Agentur für Technik und Marketing Dipl. Ing. Joachim Tatje Bismarckstr. 17 76646 Bruchsal
Phone + 49 7251 98199 0 fax: +49 7251 98199 19 [email protected]