Sustainability takes the wheel creating cost savings for operators and reduced carbon emissions
GLT is urging transport companies to pivot towards environmentally sustainable practices; leading the charge with a trailer range that slashes a trailer’s carbon footprint.
Queensland-based GLT, previously known as ‘Lusty Trailers’ is one of the nation’s leading heavy vehicle trailer manufacturers and provides top tier low-tare trailers, services, and repairs. Since the recent launch of its new Carole Park headquarters, the company is leading the green charge in a bid to move the transport industry towards a net zero future.
GLT has launched a series of sustainably driven initiatives over the past year, says CEO Shay Chalmers. She believes the future viability of Aussie manufacturing businesses will increasingly hinge on corporations implementing green strategies as more customers demand this, and energy challenges worsen.
According to Schneider’s Sustainability Index, released late last year, cost and risk associated with energy supply and resources were identified as a primary risk for 42 per cent of Australian businesses. The report further revealed that only 52 per cent of index respondents reported having a decarbonisation strategy in place.
The Australian transport industry remains the nation’s third largest emitter of co2 emissions and is set to be the highest by 2030.
Chalmers, an engineering and manufacturing expert and speaker, took the GLT reins just over 12 months ago, and has implemented a series of sustainable strategies at the company’s new multi-million-dollar, 15,000 square metre facility.
By cutting down the use of diesel in our manufacturing processes, we have reduced our carbon footprint in fuels from 154tCO2e to 8.61tCO2e, which is a massive 94% reduction, Shay Chalmers explains.
The prime piece of that green puzzle for the transport industry however comes to the design of their trailers.
“When we take the GLT-A Double Combination trailer for example,” she says.
When transporting 50,000 tonnes of payload across 130,000 km over the course of a year, it saves approximately 2,400 liters of diesel when compared to a competitor trailer. This translates to a significant carbon emission reduction of over 6,000 kg CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent).
Put simply, our trailers enable customers to carry more per trip. This means major fuel savings for operators and a reduced carbon footprint,” says Chalmers.
She adds the company pushed out sustainable solutions across all segments of the business, such as state-of-the-art recycling and responsible consumption – from wood pallets and metal to cardboard – with the team trialling beeswax instead of canola oil spray for lubricating cutting blades.
GLT also uses inverter welders and the team has implemented a new wastewater treatment plant while installing LED lights throughout the facility. Additionally, their lean manufacturing and waste reduction has led to minimal scrap metal offcuts.
“Australian businesses are facing a raft of challenges as interest rate hikes, increased manufacturing costs force us to pivot and keep pace with a changing global and domestic climate,” says Chalmers.
“And greater green strategies are key to that pivot. From purely a business standpoint, sustainable companies are increasingly being favoured by customers and there are major economic benefits to going green.
“I believe the manufacturing companies who make sustainable adjustments will quickly outpace those who don’t and it’s why we’ve significantly invested into our own green strategy at GLT.”
Chalmers says the new Carole Park facility is also able to manufacture, repair and service each element of the trailer in-house, another way of drastically reducing their transport footprint.
“This more than just benefits the environment. Through extending the life of our products, it benefits our customers and the transport company as a whole” she says.
“We’ve also established a carbon benchmark for GLT to better understand our carbon hotspots and in the short term we’re planning to implement solar power to reduce our consumption but in the long term we’ll be working hard to get to net zero.”
Chalmers is currently collaborating with the University of New South Wales to explore viable ways for manufacturing businesses to reduce their carbon footprint, and she has also joined the Institute for Industrial Decarbonization committee to discover how the transport industry as a whole can reduce its carbon footprint.
Chalmers predicts the companies that stay abreast of legislative changes such as new mandatory climate reporting and take advantage of green incentives will particularly thrive in what could be a challenging few years ahead.
As to what to expect from the transport industry for the remainder of 2024, Chalmers says major trailer innovations will continue to emerge from their Carole Park facility including increased production following investment in their capabilities and staff. This has already enabled GLT to build a core range of trailers based on the most requested customer specs which they are able to deliver at a faster pace for a sharper price.
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