Aiming to Realize a Carbon-free SocietyEnvironment

Sagawa Express is helping to realize a carbon-free society by actively working on a range of initiatives to reduce CO₂ emissions and streamline business activities. These include modal shift promotion and reduction of fuel consumption through safe and eco-friendly driving. They also include the adoption of environmentally friendly vehicles such as compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks, hybrid trucks, and electric vehicles.

Related SDGs

Decarbonization and us
-Why we need to act-

Decarbonization and us
-How we should act-

Environmentally Friendly Transportation

Adoption of environmentally friendly vehicles

After early adoption in the 1990s ahead of competitors, the number of our environmentally friendly vehicles has more than doubled in the last eight years

Compared to conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles, environmentally friendly vehicles have a smaller impact on the global environment. They emit lower levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide which promote global warming, as well as air pollutants contained in exhaust gas (nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, etc.). As of the end of fiscal 2022, Sagawa Express owns 16,802 environmentally friendly vehicles, and environmentally friendly vehicle share of its fleet is increasing year by year.

Trends in adoption of environmentally friendly vehicles

Compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks emit less CO₂ and NOx (nitrogen oxides) than conventional ones, and do not emit any particulate matter at all. Sagawa Express was the first in the industry to introduce these trucks in the 1990s.

A hybrid truck that has better fuel efficiency and lower tailpipe emissions than a regular diesel truck.

Introducing FCV trucks and EV trucks for last one mile delivery

Sagawa Express is participating in the construction and social implementation of an energy management system to promote electric vehicles in Fukushima Prefecture and Tokyo^*. As part of this effort, we have been sequentially introducing FCV (fuel cell vehicle) trucks and EV (electric vehicle) trucks since November 15, 2023. Since these vehicles do not emit CO₂ or other exhaust gases while driving, we estimate that each vehicle can curb CO₂emissions by approximately 12 tons per year.

Partially implemented as “Green Innovation Fund Project/Smart Mobility Construction,” a research and development project subsidized by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)

EV truck (Isuzu Elf 2 t EV truck with freezer/refrigerator)

FCV truck (3 t truck with freezer/refrigerator, jointly developed by Toyota Motor and Isuzu Motors)

Establishing Service Centers

Our 325 Service Centers eliminate the need for 1,500 trucks

Since one Service Center can eliminate the need for three to five trucks, our entire network across Japan is keeping about 1,500 trucks off the road.

Sagawa Express is also actively working to provide environmentally friendly pickup and delivery without the use of trucks. By using hand carts and bicycles at Service Centers for package pickup and delivery, we are reducing the use of trucks, which significantly reduces CO₂ emissions.

TRIKE CARGO: Power-assist electric tricycles for pickup and delivery

We introduced TRIKE CARGO, a power-assisted electric tricycle for business use, in August 2020. It can carry up to 150 kg* (one third of the loading capacity of a light truck), four times the conventional trike capacity.

In the case of Tokyo (depending on the ordinance of each prefecture)

Modal Shift Promotion

Shifting from truck to rail or sea transport to reduce CO₂ emissions by about 1/10

Modal shifting means switching long-distance freight transport from truck to high-capacity rail or sea transport in order to lower CO₂ emissions. Sagawa Express is actively promoting a modal shift to reduce its CO₂ emissions.

In 2004, Sagawa Express began to send shipments via "Super Rail Cargo" express railway container cars developed jointly with Japan Freight Railway Company. The total daily volume transported this way is equivalent to 56 ten-ton trucks.

We are also engaged in modal shift activities with other industries. Sagawa Express is utilizing containers on the TOYOTA LONGPASS EXPRESS, a freight train operated by Toyota Transportation, to send shipments from the Chukyo (Nagoya) region to the Tohoku (Northeast) region.

Sagawa Express supports Eco Rail Mark, which is a certification for environmentally friendly rail transport.

CO₂ emissions reduction from modal shifting

Prepared using "Carbon Dioxide Emissions in the Transportation Sector (FY2021)," Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Compared to truck transport, the amount of CO₂ emitted to transport a ton of cargo for one kilometer is about 1/10th for rail and 1/5th for ocean transport.

Mixing freight and passengers transport business - Advanced form of modal shift

Passenger trains and taxis in service are now also being used to carry cargo. In addition to reducing CO₂ emissions, this type of modal shift provides the added advantages of maintaining employment and streamlining logistics in depopulated rural areas. In cooperation with regional transportation companies such as rail, bus, and share-ride taxis operators, Sagawa Express is working to utilize various passenger services for cargo transport.

Mixing Freight and Passengers Transport Business

Mode	Company	Start	Area
Railroad	Hokuetsu Express	April 2017	Muikamachi(Muikamachi Sta.)~Zyouetsu(Uragawara Sta.) in Niigata
Bus	Iyo Railway Uwajima Bus Co.,Ltd The Setouchi Bus CO.,LTD.	September 2017	Matsuyama、Yawatahama、Uwazima、Imabari in Ehime
Taxi	Asahikawa Chuo Traffic Co.,Ltd	November 2017	Asahikawa in Hokkaido
Taxi	MK Taxi JAL ABC, Inc.	June 2018	Osaka~Kyoto
Taxi	Yamashiro Yasaka Koutsu Co.,Ltd	October 2018	Kasagi in Kyoto
Railroad Taxi	Hokkaido Railway Company Tesio Hire	December 2018	Railway：Wakkanai(Wakkanai Sta.)~Horonobe(Horonobe Sta.) in Hokkaido Taxi：Horonobe in Hokkaido
Taxi	Hey Taxi	November 2018	Toma in Hokkaido
Railroad	Matsuura Railway	November 2019	Matsuura(Matsuura Sta.)~Sasebo(Senryugataki Sta.) in Nagasaki
Bus	Nippon Koei Co., Ltd	March 2020	Nishimera in Miyazaki
Railway (Shinkansen)	JR Hokkaido	March 2021	Shinhakodatehokuto Sta.~Shinaomori Sta.
Railway (Shinkansen)	JR Kyushu	May 2021	Hakata Sta.~Kagoshimacyuou Sta.

Operation of Large-scale Hub Facilities

An environmentally friendly transportation system with 22 Large-scale Hub Facilities across Japan

Sagawa Express has built a system in which packages collected in each region are taken to a Large-scale Hub Facility, before being transported in bulk to each region in Japan. By reducing the number of trucks used, we are reducing CO₂ emissions and preventing air pollution.

Site area : 73,261.70m² (22,161.66Tsubo)
Total floor area : 171,029.02m² (51,736.27Tsubo)
Cargo sorting capacity : 100,000 items/hour (1,000,000 items/day)
*Around four times more cargo handing capacity
Truck berths : 296

Transport Process Using Large-scale Hub Facilities

Packages need to be delivered directly from each origin to each destination.

Packages collected within one region are gathered at a Large-scale Hub Facility, and then shipped together according to the destination region.

Facility Logistics Systems

Central management of people, goods, vehicles, information, and facility maintenance at large commercial facilities

At Sagawa Express, we are building a system whereby we bring together all the cargo collected from various regions in large-scale collection facilities and transport it out from the facilities en masse by destination. This reduces the number of trucks used and helps to limit CO₂ emissions and prevent air pollution.

Inside the GINZA SIX shopping complex in Tokyo, Sagawa Express has set up a delivery counter at TERMINAL GINZA, the tourist service center on the first floor. In addition to offering regular domestic courier services, we also temporarily store baggage, offer international courier services, and provide same-day delivery to local airports and hotels.

Some of our large commercial complexes with a facility logistics system

Nihonbashi Muromachi Mitsui Tower
(Chuo-ku, Tokyo)

AKASAKA INTERCITY AIR
(Minato-ku, Tokyo)

We optimize the system for each facility based on conditions such as location, scale, and tenant makeup.

Smart Delivery

Solving various delivery issues with a made-to-order service

Smart Delivery is the industry's first custom-made delivery service that greatly improves work efficiency for customers after package delivery. We use time slot-specific delivery, including late night and early morning. Instead of delivering packages as they arrive, sorting codes are used to organize customer packages by product category, location, or other criteria, and then they are delivered in bundles. When combined with a delivery information service, Smart Delivery enables customers to not only to check the number of their packages in advance, but also request consolidated package delivery online. It is an environmentally friendly service that eliminates the need to sign for each package delivered and provides paperless delivery invoices.

Eco-Friendly Safe Driving

Promoting safety and environmental benefits using both devices and methods

Sudden acceleration and braking while driving not only increases the risk of traffic accidents, but also lowers fuel efficiency. Therefore, safe driving is also environmentally friendly driving. Sagawa Express provides thorough training to its drivers so that vehicles are always driven safely and in a way that reduces CO₂ emissions.

Sagawa Express has required all of its drivers to implement Idling Stop since 1997. This saves fuel and lowers tailpipe emissions including CO₂, NOx, and particulate matter. Eliminating two hours of unnecessary idling each day for all the company's vehicles results in an annual CO₂ emissions reduction of about 30,000 tons (based on the assumption that one year is equal to 300 days of vehicle operation).

Sagawa Express holds "Truck Driving Championships" every year in order to improve the traffic safety awareness and driving manners of drivers. The championships were held for the 27th time in fiscal 2019.

Canceled in FY2020 and FY2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seven Guidelines for Eco-Friendly Safe Driving

1. Implementation of "e-start" gentle acceleration

Safety effects	Gentle starts create leeway enabling safety checks of the surroundings to be carried out without delay. Prevents accidents by enabling immediate stops in the event of an emergency.
Environmental effects	Gentle acceleration uses less fuel and can reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and black smoke. Sudden acceleration wastes fuel!

2. Shifting up gears early

Safety effects	Shifting up gears early enables easy acceleration and maintains a safe speed and vehicle distance.
Environmental effects	Fuel consumption is minimized by shifting up early, also reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. High RPM in low gear produces noise and wastes fuel!

3. Driving at a fixed speed according to traffic conditions

Safety effects	Driving at a fixed speed enables anticipation of one traffic light ahead and congestion. It broadens the scope of reliably performing safety checks and provides leeway.
Environmental effects	Keeping the accelerator at a fixed point consumes less fuel and reduces carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Undulating acceleration wastes fuel!

4. Securing adequate vehicle distance

Safety effects	Having adequate vehicle distance reduces the danger of collisions. It prevents anxiety (stress) for the driver of the vehicle in front.
Environmental effects	It is possible to drive at a fixed speed by ensuring there is adequate distance to the vehicle in front, lowering fuel consumption and reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.

5. Utilization of engine brake by easing off the accelerator early

Safety effects	In connection with driving at a fixed speed, driving by anticipating the behavior of the vehicles in front and road conditions enables defensive driving predicting hazards.
Environmental effects	Easing off the accelerator early when reducing speed completely cuts the fuel supply and can minimize fuel consumption.

6. Encouraging removal of the key (stopping the engine) when parked

Safety effects	Ensuring appropriate parking actions (gear lock and pulling the side brake twice) prevents accidents the vehicle from. It also has the effect of preventing vehicle theft.
Environmental effects	Not idling and turning off the air conditioner can also lower fuel consumption. (Do not use the air condition except when necessary!)

7. Daily inspections, maintenance and air pressure management

Safety effects	Prevents traffic accidents caused by poor maintenance. Prevents unforeseen accidents and accidents caused by panicking when changing tires, etc.
Environmental effects	Inappropriate tire pressure increases rolling resistance and causes deterioration of fuel consumption. Air pressure management prevents uneven wear and prolongs the life of tires.

We are working to reduce traffic accidents and environmental impact by providing thorough driver training based on the Seven Guidelines for Eco-Friendly Safe Driving, a method that integrates eco-friendly and safe practices.

Environmentally Friendly Distribution Facilities

Installing solar power generation systems

Annual energy production equivalent to the daily energy consumption of approximately 51,000 typical households

To increase its use of renewable energy, Sagawa Express has installed solar power generation systems on the rooftops of 23 sales offices since fiscal 2003. The entire SG Holdings Group is also working to adopt renewable energy on an even larger scale. SG Realty Higashiosaka, which is home to Sagawa Express’ Higashiosaka Sales Office, uses a self-consumption power generation system and makes up the deficit with purchased renewable energy. In this way, the facility has achieved zero CO₂ emissions.

The logistics facility SG Realty Higashiosaka has obtained ZEB certification, the highest rank in the Building Energy Efficiency Labeling System (BELS).

LED Lighting

Installed at 386 sales offices and large distribution facilities

We are working to reduce our environmental impact by installing LED lighting at 386 sales offices and large distribution facilities.
The LED lighting installed by the end of fiscal 2022 has resulted in a CO₂ emissions reduction of about 16,000 tons of CO₂, which is a savings of about 32 million kilowatts of electricity.