Geodis takes “green” last-mile delivery system to Strasbourg

French logistics company SNCF Geodis is set to introduce its Distripolis last-mile delivery service to the city of Strasbourg. It has signed an agreement with the Urban Community of Strasbourg that will see it establishing the “green” delivery service, which involves establishing a series of distribution centres around the outskirts of a city, to which major deliveries can be made, before items are taken onwards into the city centre via cleaner transport technologies.

The vehicles to be used for the last mile deliveries are set to include light electric cars and power-assisted tricycles.

Heavy loads, above 200kg, will be transported by trucks that meet the Euro 5 emissions standard, and will eventually be taken by hybrid trucks meeting the Euro 6 standard.

Geodis introduced its Distripolis model to Paris last June, with the aim of cutting air pollution, carbon emissions and noise pollution in highly urban areas.

The company said it aims to expand the model to major cities across France over the next five years, and ultimately establish a major new multimodal network across Europe based on the efficient last mile solution.

After signing the protocol with Geodis, Strasbourg mayor Roland Ries said: “I welcome the memorandum of understanding signed with Geodis, which will allow the city and the Greater Strasbourg area to be, in terms of freight transport and logistics in urban areas, at the forefront of sustainable development.”

Pierre Blayau, the president and CEO of Geodis, which operates in the Strasbourg area through its Geodis Calberson, France Express and Geodis Ciblex subsidiaries, described the Distripolis project as “iconic”.

“This illustrates the Group’s commitment to be successful both in economic and ecological terms, and above all to serve our customers and staff.”