World leading producer of paper-based packaging Smurfit Kappa, multimodal network operator Samskip and BCTN Roermond (BCTN) are proud to announce that they have set up a cost effective, sustainable transport solution to take cargo off the road.
Samskip handles most of the paper-based cargoes that are shipped in containers within Europe to Smurfit Kappa’s cardboard factory in Roermond in the Netherlands. Following a substantial increase in demand, together with BCTN, the three parties sought a more sustainable solution to cope with the increased volumes for the last mile delivery from Rotterdam to Roermond.
Taking the cargo flows off the road and onto ‘blue road’ inland waterway services will guarantee available capacity, and will save Smurfit Kappa carbon emissions of 45 kg CO2 (carbon dioxide equivalent) per load.In addition, Samskip will be able to offer higher payloads (up to 26.7 tonnes) to other customers with cargo into the Cologne, Bonn and Koblenz areas as the BCTN terminal is situated between Samskip’s Duisburg and Mannheim depots.The first loads were unloaded in Roermond at the beginning of December, and 60 containers a week are expected to be shipped by inland waterway between Rotterdam and Roermond.
“Smurfit Kappa Recycling is excited about the partnership with Samskip and BCTN, which enables us to make big steps forward in striving to make logistics as sustainable as possible”, says Leon Graff, Managing Director Smurfit Kappa Recycling Benelux.
According to Esther Sliepen, Manager Sales & Marketing for BCTN, this cooperation is exactly what BCTN strives for; “Green and Blue are our colours, representing respect for nature and sailing the inland waters. We are happy that well-established companies like Smurfit Kappa and Samskip share this vision and that we could realize this modal shift together.”
“Samskip is looking forward to a fruitful partnership, taking cargo off the road as part of our sustainability strategy”, says Paul Wielaard, Samskip Trade Manager – West Coast Norway.