Intertrading opts for more sustainable transport via inland shipping

OUDSBERGEN/GENK – Intertrading, a wholesaler in decorative items such as photo frames, mirrors and painting supplies, is taking an important step towards more sustainable transport. For part of its incoming goods, the company no longer relies exclusively on trucks, but chooses a combination of transport by water and a short truck journey. In this process, Intertrading received guidance from Multimodaal.Vlaanderen, with support from POM Limburg.

Intertrading’s products are manufactured by long-standing partners in Asia and arrive by container in the port of Antwerp. Until recently, these containers were transported entirely by truck to the warehouse in Oudsbergen. The empty containers were then also transported back to Antwerp by truck. This resulted in many kilometres on the road and CO2 emissions of approximately 313 kilograms per transport.

Closer to home
As sustainability becomes increasingly important, Intertrading started looking for an alternative that is also practically feasible. Thanks to its location just 17 kilometres from Port of Limburg, transport by water proved to be a logical choice. Part of the containers is now transported by inland vessel from Antwerp to Genk. From there, a short truck journey to the warehouse follows.

This way of working fits better with Intertrading’s daily logistics. The short distance by road makes it easier to plan deliveries efficiently. Moreover, the company avoids additional costs, as containers can be handled more quickly and closer to home.

Fewer trucks, lower emissions
The switch offers clear advantages. Around 204 kilometres of truck transport are saved per container. The remaining kilometres are driven via the local road network, which is less sensitive to traffic congestion. Through this combination, CO2 emissions are reduced to 83 kilograms per transport. This represents a saving of approximately 230 kilograms of CO2 per container.

With this approach, Intertrading shows that more sustainable transport does not have to be complicated. “Via Port of Limburg, we are trying to reduce our ecological footprint, at a lower cost and with smooth handling close to home,” says Pascal Crijns, Head of Purchasing at Intertrading.