LPR eliminates empty kilometers with U Log

By pooling their transport flows, the European pallet-pooling specialist LPR-La Palette Rouge (Euro Pool Group) and the logistics company U Log (System U Group) have reduced their transport needs by nearly 28,000 km in a little less than a year.

In the framework of its CSR policy, LPR confirms its determination to work with its customers in reducing their carbon footprints. After a detailed analysis of their respective transport systems, LPR and U Log found that many of their transport routes overlapped. In order to optimize this situation, the two partners have decided to pool these, by carrying empty pallets from System U’s warehouses in France to LPR’s Service Centers, or directly to the delivery points of LPR’s manufacturing customers. Result: establishing long-distance transport lines of more than 700 km has enabled them to take more than 70 trucks off the roads. An estimated 28,000 km has been avoided in a little less than a year.

This approach confirms LPR’s determination to help its customers reduce their carbon footprints, in addition to its commitment to using timber from PEFC certified forests for manufacturing its pallets. LPR optimizes every step of the logistics chain, by pooling transport systems, by the combined use of rail and road, or by locating its service centers, where its pallets are reconditioned, as close as possible to its customer’s production sites.

LPR, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary, has made the optimization of its transport lanes a central aspect of its activity. The company has been calculating its carbon footprint for many years and is able to track its impact by the customer, and by type of service. La Palette Rouge also encourages its partner carriers to make progress in reducing their impacts and in signing up to undertakings initiated in their sectors, such as the ADEME Charter (voluntary offset guidelines) or the recommendations of the Freight Transport Association.

“Our business model is based on the circular economy,” says Yves Degouve, LPR’s Regional Director for Western Europe. “The environment is therefore at the heart of our concerns. We are convinced that a growing number of our partners will adopt our solutions, which can reduce CO2 emissions and waste, and make a lasting contribution to improving our ecosystem. Our goals are clear and we are ready to move firmly in this direction.”

U Log is the logistics arm of the U Group, with a workforce of 4,600, 30 sites in France, 600 million parcels/year, 1,200 trucks/day – U Group is France’s fourth largest general food distribution group, including the Hyper U, Super U, Market U, U Express and Utile brands. This co-operative structure serves more than 1,500 stores and employs more than 65,000 personnel.

LPR-La Palette Rouge, a Division of Euro Pool System Group, is a pallet-pooling company for manufacturers and distributors in the fast-moving consumer goods sector. LPR operates throughout Europe, providing a full pallet service to its customers and their retail partners. The company manages more than 75 million pallet movements per year throughout Europe.

Euro Pool Group is the European leader in logistics services for returnable packaging in the fresh produce sector. Euro Pool Group is composed of two divisions, Euro Pool System (EPS) and La Palette Rouge (LPR).