Lilly and DHL Freight achieve milestone in sustainable medicine distribution with first international biodiesel route

They join forces

Lilly and DHL Freight make sustainable international routes a reality in which carbon reduction is achieved through investment in technologies and the use of low-emission fuels

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In an important step towards decarbonizing the transportation of pharmaceutical products, Lilly, a leading company in the sector, and DHL Freight, one of the leading road transport providers in Europe, have joined forces to establish the first international routes that use biodiesel. This pioneering initiative makes Lilly the first European company to carry out international transport from its production plant in Alcobendas (Madrid) with fuel of natural origin, thus reducing carbon emissions and contributing to the fight against climate change.

 

The use of biodiesel in the transportation of goods presents various challenges, such as the complexity of its production, distribution and the availability of refueling points along the routes. However, thanks to the arduous planning and commitment of both companies, this project has become a reality.

 

The temperature-controlled trucks, which operate between +15º and +25º and between +2º and +8º, depart from the Lilly factory in Alcobendas and transport pharmaceutical products once or twice a week to Belgium (Tessenderlo and Boortmeerbeek) and once a month at The Netherlands (Schiphol-Rijk). This initiative will reduce CO2 emissions by 10% in shipments from the Alcobendas plant, which is equivalent to stopping emitting 2.000 tons of CO2 per year, or planting 279.000 trees.

 

The difficulty in producing, distributing and finding biodiesel refueling points along the route makes this project a new milestone  

 

"Getting these biodiesel routes up and running hasn't been easy, but it was a crucial project for us," he says. Teresa Millan, Director of Corporate Affairs at Lilly Spain. "This initiative is part of our commitment to reducing CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions in distribution, thus minimizing our environmental impact throughout the value chain of our medicines."

 

For its part, Ruben GavelaThe managing director of DHL Freight Iberia emphasizes that "DHL has been working systematically for three years to reduce and offset emissions from its transport operations, thus contributing to curbing climate change and becoming a benchmark in sustainable transport and logistics." "The agreement with Lilly fills us with satisfaction and brings us closer to our goal, since, thanks to biodiesel, 2.000 tons of CO2 emissions will be avoided annually."

 

This pioneering project is an example of the successful collaboration between the public and private sectors in the fight against climate change. Lilly and DHL Freight have joined the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID) to develop a biofuels training program for transporters in developing countries.

 

The initiative by Lilly and DHL Freight marks a before and after in the transportation of pharmaceutical products, laying the foundations for a more sustainable future in the sector. Both companies are committed to continuing to work to reduce their environmental impact and contribute to a healthier planet.