Recycling services company Kuusakoski reduces transport emissions by using gas

The recycling services company Kuusakoski is driven by environmental logic in its fuel choices, too. In addition to diesel-fueled ones, the company also uses gas-fueled vehicles in its transports. Their low operating costs compensate for the procurement costs of the gas-fueled fleet.

Most of the carbon footprint of the industrial recycling services group Kuusakoski originates from logistics. Kuusakoski is cutting its carbon dioxide emissions by using compressed natural gas (CNG) to fuel its transports.

"As a circular economy enterprise, we have a special obligation to be environmentally aware. We see a great opportunity in emission reductions," says Kuusakoski Logistics Manager Petri Kontulainen.

“Gas vehicle technology has developed to a high enough level”

Kontulainen is responsible for Kuusakoski’s road and rail transport in Finland and Sweden. He says the time is now ripe for the first vehicle fueled by natural gas.

"Both gas vehicle technology and the filling station network have now developed to a high enough level. Of course we expect them to develop further in the future, too. I’ve understood that Gasum intends to open new filling stations around Finland."

Guidance in gas vehicle use provided by logistics partner

Kuusakoski does not own any transport fleet. Recycled materials such as recycled metal, recycled electronics, wood-containing material such as construction waste, and car tires are transported by logistics partners’ vehicles.

Kuusakoski has few vehicles of its own, mainly light vans.

"Our aim was to increase low-emission vehicle use among our partners. We were happy to find a partner with previous experience in gas vehicle use and interested in investing in a gas-fueled vehicle," says Kontulainen.

Most of the transports take place using heavy-duty demountable and grapple combination trucks.

"We first introduced gas in break bulk transport because our partner operates in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area where the break bulk volume is high."

Gas-fueled collection vehicle on the road ten hours a day

Intended for break bulk collection, the 18-tonne Iveco gas truck serves Kuusakoski’s customers in the Uusimaa region around Helsinki. Kontulainen says that the truck operates around eight to ten hours a day, clocking up 250–300 km.

"Gas-fueled vehicles are slightly more expensive to buy than diesel-fueled ones, but the savings obtained in fuel costs compensate for the higher procurement costs."

According to Kontulainen, both the investment cost and the savings in operating costs depend largely on the type of vehicle as well as the kilometers driven and the fuel consumption.

Capital expenditure is higher with heavier-duty vehicles, but these vehicles usually also clock up larger kilometer figures.

More gas-fueled heavy-duty vehicles needed

The gas-fueled heavier-duty options available in the market have not yet met Kuusakoski’s needs, but the company still intends to increase the use of gas vehicles.

"At least one manufacturer is launching a gas-fueled vehicle with good engine power and a more advanced grapple in terms of usability in 2020. We want to increase the use of gas vehicles in the future," says Kontulainen.

Kuusakoski’s partners also want to invest in gas-fueled fleets.

"Looking ahead, I see no obstacles to their use increasing in our transports," he continues.

Gas vehicles consume 20% less fuel

Kontulainen points out that, according to studies, gas vehicles consume around 20% less fuel and generate around 20% less greenhouse gas emissions compared with similar diesel-fueled trucks in similar use.

Transport operators using biogas may be able to cut up to 90% of the greenhouse gas emissions over the fuel life cycle.

"Kuusakoski is a family business that regards logistics as playing a key role in terms of environmental impacts. Using gas vehicles is part of our environmental responsibility. More and more attention will be paid in the 2020s to emissions and fossil fuel use," Petri Kontulainen anticipates.

Gas and other emission-reducing forms of energy are important factors in this.

"We want to keep up with this development as an enterprise."

2.4.2020