XPand Logistics wins new business and retains customers with carbon emissions reporting from Pledge

Introduction

Leading UK freight forwarder, XPand Logistics, provides an integrated service of technology-driven transportation and logistics solutions tailored to customers of all sizes. Established in 2000, XPand Logistics provides air freight, ocean freight, road freight, 3PL warehousing and distribution, as well as specialist furniture and fine art installation services throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australasia and North and South America.

The team at XPand Logistics take the business’s impact on the climate very seriously, putting sustainability at the forefront of its services. This includes a commitment to reaching net zero by 2035, as well as becoming Planet Mark certified.

This case study explores how Pledge is supporting XPand Logistics to become more sustainable and enable its customers to reach their climate goal by providing carbon reporting and offsetting services as standard. 

The Challenge: Meeting rising customer demand for sustainability and carbon accountability

The logistics industry is one of the most carbon-intensive sectors globally — but it is also one of the most complex to decarbonise due to its global nature and lack of transparency. XPand Logistics was under pressure from both internal stakeholders and clients to address this issue. 

Internally, sustainability was a top concern among employees, with Stuart Parker, XPand Logistics’ Development Director, noting that "our 2021 staff survey showed that sustainability was the number one concern for employees." Externally, larger clients began making carbon emissions reporting a mandatory requirement in their Request for Quotations (RFQs).

Without a robust system for tracking and reporting carbon emissions, XPand Logistics risked losing key business. "It was clear that without carbon reporting capabilities, we'd be barred from even tendering for business with some of our top customers," Parker explained. The company needed a solution that would not only meet customer demand and please employees, but also align with their broader goals of contributing to sustainability efforts in developing countries.

The Solution: Pledge delivers carbon reporting tailored to freight forwarders and their customers

XPand Logistics chose Pledge to provide customers with carbon reporting on their shipments. Pledge's solution offers several key features that make it an ideal choice:

1. Industry-specific design: Pledge is built specifically for freight forwarders, which means it has been built to meet the unique needs and challenges of the industry. "It's actually built for freight forwarders, so they understand our industry and the terminology we need to interpret to get the right emissions data to customers," Parker said.

2. Ease of integration: The solution is easy to implement and comes with APIs that could integrate with XPand Logistics’ existing systems. Parker acknowledged that "Pledge was very easy to implement and roll out for use by our team."

3. Accredited data: Pledge is fully accredited to industry standards — in conformance with the GLEC Framework and ISO 14083-aligned. This was essential for XPand's PlanetMark accreditation. Parker said: "We needed a solution that gave clear certification with trackability beyond expected industry standards for the projects we were supporting".

4. Verified offsetting projects: In addition to carbon reporting, Pledge provides a carbon offsetting marketplace offering verified and vetted carbon offsets. This meant XPand Logistics could confidently purchase offsets from their choice of projects, such as farming in Tanzania, soil quality improvements in Brazil and subsistence farming in Kenya. This flexibility was a significant factor in their decision to partner with Pledge.

The Results: XPand Logistics wins new business and secures existing customers with leading carbon reporting services

After a short onboarding process, it quickly became clear that Pledge enabled XPand Logistics to meet the evolving carbon reporting needs of its customers. The ability to offer carbon emissions data became a critical factor in retaining and attracting clients, even during times of economic uncertainty. "We've seen that by being able to offer the emissions data option, we've not only retained clients, but we've actually gained clients as well," Parker shared.

While the demand for carbon offsetting dipped slightly in 2023 due to economic challenges, the availability of emissions data remained a strong selling point. Parker highlighted that "clients still want that emissions data. You've got to be able to provide it to them; otherwise, they're going to take their business elsewhere."

XPand Logistics looks to expand its sustainability efforts in the future with the support of Pledge

XPand Logistics is committed to continuing its sustainability journey, with a goal to become net zero by 2035. The company recognises that sustainability is not just about compliance or business growth but is also a moral imperative. "We don't want to leave the decisions and the clean-up to generations to come when we can be doing something about it now," Parker emphasised.

By partnering with Pledge, XPand Logistics has positioned itself as a leader in sustainability within the logistics industry, ready to meet future market demands and contribute positively to decarbonising one of the world’s most polluting industries.