Sustainability • Modal shift • Barge • Rail • CO₂ insight
Sustainable logistics takes insight, choices and collaboration
Sustainability has long ceased to be a side issue in logistics. Climate targets, legislation and customer expectations force companies to deal more consciously with transport, energy and resources. Those who take no steps now risk higher costs, reputational damage and limited freedom of choice in the future. The good news: becoming more sustainable does not have to come at the expense of reliability or cost control.
In short: what is sustainable logistics?
Sustainable logistics means organising transport with as little CO₂ emission and waste as possible, without compromising on reliability. In practice it comes down to smart choices: barge or rail instead of road only, fewer empty kilometres, better bundling of shipments and insight into the emissions per shipment, so that every next decision is better substantiated.
The biggest sustainability gains lie in the transport choice itself. That is why this page is closely linked to barge transport, rail transport and their smart combination: intermodal transport, with road transport as the flexible link where it is really needed.
Why sustainability is becoming ever more important in logistics
The figures show why transport comes first in every sustainability strategy: in 2024 the Dutch transport sector emitted 28 billion kilograms of CO₂ equivalents — 15 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions of the Dutch economy. For companies that have goods transported, transport is therefore often one of the biggest levers they can pull.
At the same time, the demand for evidence is growing. Customers, tenders and reporting obligations increasingly ask for CO₂ insight per shipment instead of a general sustainability statement. Measuring is becoming just as important as reducing: those who know their emissions per shipment can choose — and justify — on solid grounds.
And the physical solution is right on Rotterdam's doorstep. Rail and inland shipping emit less CO₂ per tonne-kilometre than road transport, thanks to their much larger cargo capacity and the largely electrified railway. The port is connected to the entire European hinterland via barge, rail and road — the ideal starting position for a more sustainable chain.
What companies often get wrong about becoming more sustainable
The first misconception: "sustainable is expensive." In logistics, savings and sustainability often go hand in hand. Fewer empty kilometres, better bundling and a higher load factor reduce both emissions and costs per shipment. And on the right corridors, barge and rail are financially competitive too, especially for recurring volumes.
The second misconception: "we have to change everything at once." Becoming more sustainable works best step by step. Start with the goods flows where the gains are biggest — fixed corridors with sufficient volume — and keep road transport where speed or flexibility is decisive. Moving one fixed flow to barge or rail often delivers more than ten small optimisations.
The third misconception: "without our own data we can't do anything." For a solid first footprint, official Dutch emission factors per transport mode exist, updated annually. With these, the emissions per shipment can be approximated well — and thus compared between scenarios — before a single contract is changed.
Practical example
A trading company has ten containers driven from the port of Rotterdam to southern Germany every week, entirely by road. TOP calculates an alternative: eight containers now travel on a fixed rail shuttle, while the two time-critical containers stay on the truck. Customs handling and on-carriage are aligned with the train timetable, and in the reporting the company sees the CO₂ emissions of the old and new scenario side by side per shipment. The result: demonstrably lower emissions, more stable rates and a story that holds up towards customers.
Becoming sustainable: quick wins or structural choices?
Sustainable logistics follows two tracks that reinforce each other. Quick improvements within the existing setup, and structural choices that change the chain itself. Below they are set out side by side.
Sustainability in numbers: sources and methodology
The facts below come from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), co2emissiefactoren.nl and research agency CE Delft, and were verified for this page in August 2026.
28 billion kg CO₂ eq (2024) — In 2024 the Dutch transport sector emitted 28 billion kilograms of CO₂ equivalents in greenhouse gases: 15 percent of the total emissions of the Dutch economy. For many companies, transport is therefore one of the biggest sustainability levers.
Source: CBS, greenhouse gas emissions transport sector (in Dutch)
90 TEU per train, 1 TEU per truck — According to the official Dutch list of CO₂ emission factors, updated annually by an expert panel, an average container train loads 90 TEU, against 1 TEU for a truck above 20 tonnes. That capacity difference is at the heart of the lower emissions per transported container.
Lower emissions per tonne-kilometre — Research agency CE Delft establishes that the CO₂ emissions per tonne-kilometre for rail and inland shipping are lower than for road transport, due to the larger cargo capacity and the largely electric traction on the railway. The exact gain differs per route and also depends on the pre- and on-carriage.
Source: CE Delft, segmentation of freight transport CO₂ emissions (in Dutch)
How TOP makes sustainable logistics practical
TOP helps you make sustainability practical and achievable. It starts with insight: which goods flows are there, what is the current transport mix and where are the biggest gains? TOP then calculates alternatives — barge, rail, intermodal combinations — including lead times, costs and the effect on emissions, so you choose on facts rather than gut feeling.
TOP then arranges the execution as one chain: the customs handling, the terminal planning and the pre- and on-carriage are aligned, with real-time insight via the digital platform and the API services. Step by step, you work towards a more sustainable logistics chain without losing reliability, speed or cost control — see also the complete services overview.
Want to know where your chain can be more sustainable? Request a quote directly, prepare your shipment via book a shipment, or schedule an introduction with TOP.
Which companies is TOP suitable for?
TOP is suitable for companies that want to make their logistics more sustainable without compromising reliability. These can be SMEs receiving more and more sustainability questions from customers, but also multinationals with concrete reduction targets and reporting obligations across the entire chain.
Boards want to meet reduction targets and control costs. Logistics managers want to know what the modal shift means for lead times and planning. Procurement and compliance ask for figures that hold up in reports and tenders. TOP understands that these interests come together in one substantiated transport strategy.
That is why TOP works in an advisory and practical way. No green promises without substantiation, but clear explanations of options, figures and next steps. For general developments in the transport sector, TOP also refers where relevant to industry information from Transport en Logistiek Nederland.
TOP is not a standard freight forwarder
TOP helps companies with a practical combination of customs matters, sea freight, air freight, intermodal transport, warehousing, rail and barge. This makes TOP particularly suitable for entrepreneurs and logistics teams who want understandable advice on importing, exporting and becoming more sustainable, without complicated jargon. Its strength lies in organising, explaining and following up on the entire logistics chain.
Frequently asked questions about sustainable logistics
What is sustainable logistics?
Sustainable logistics means organising transport with as little CO₂ emission and waste as possible, without compromising on reliability. Core elements are the transport choice (barge, rail, road), smart planning and insight into the emissions per shipment.
Is transport by barge or rail more sustainable than road transport?
Yes, per tonne-kilometre the CO₂ emissions of rail and inland shipping are lower than those of road transport, mainly due to the much larger cargo capacity. The exact gain differs per route and also depends on the pre- and on-carriage.
Is sustainable logistics more expensive?
Not by definition. Fewer empty kilometres and better bundling actually save costs, and on fixed corridors with sufficient volume, barge and rail are often financially competitive too, with more stable rates than the road.
What is a modal shift?
Moving goods flows from one transport mode to another, usually from road to barge or rail. The modal shift is the biggest structural step a company can take to lower its transport emissions.
How do I gain insight into the CO₂ emissions of my shipments?
With the official Dutch CO₂ emission factors per transport mode, the emissions per shipment can be approximated well. TOP helps with that insight and makes scenarios comparable, so you can choose and report on solid grounds.
Do I have to make my entire logistics sustainable in one go?
No, step by step works better. Start with the fixed goods flows with sufficient volume — that is where the gains are biggest — and keep road transport where speed or flexibility is decisive.
Conclusion: sustainability is a choice you can substantiate
Sustainable logistics is not about promises but about choices: the right transport mode per goods flow, smart planning and figures that show what it delivers. The transport sector accounts for 15 percent of Dutch emissions — those who design their chain smartly really make a difference.
TOP makes that step practical: from CO₂ insight and calculated alternatives to complete execution via barge, rail, road and customs. Step by step towards a more sustainable chain, while keeping reliability, speed and cost control.
Discuss your sustainable logistics with TOP
Curious where your chain can be more sustainable — and what that means for planning and costs? TOP is happy to calculate an alternative for you.
Request a quoteWant to know more about Trans Ocean Pacific forwarding? Visit the TOP homepage.
Last updated: August 2026. Figures: CBS, co2emissiefactoren.nl and CE Delft. Online findability and AI readiness of this page in collaboration with HEF Digital.