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Growing our green delivery reach in Canada
Green delivery in the e-commerce supply chain is hardly a new concept, but it now enjoys an increasingly prominent profile. More than two years ago, Inside Logistics reported that “only 38% of consumers felt retailers were effectively using sustainable delivery practices”. Moreover, 50% were quite or very “interested in environmentally friendly delivery methods.”
“I expect those numbers are larger today,” says Victor Poudelet, Director, Sustainability, at Intelcom | Dragonfly, a Canadian pioneer in green logistics. “Large e-commerce retailers are strong and vocal advocates for sustainable last-mile delivery, because it is increasingly a priority for their customers. That sentiment aligns with our own internal goals and strategy; we intend to maintain and expand our leadership in sustainable delivery practices.”
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Accelerating progress in green last-mile logistics
Intelcom | Dragonfly is a leader in last-mile delivery across Canada. Its efforts to de-carbonize have accelerated in recent months and the company alongside its delivery partners continues to make significant progress. With a current EV capacity north of 20 million packages per year, we are shaping the future of green last-mile logistics in Canada.
In most situations, last-mile routes are ideally served by electric vehicles, especially in urban and suburban areas. Since Intelcom | Dragonfly is a national carrier, however, it must accept that certain last-mile routes can involve long distances and the extremes of Canada’s climate. While these routes aren’t yet a good fit for EVs, the company focuses on the vast majority that are. Thanks to the growth of its operating network and technological improvements, the company is confident that it is only a matter of time before these delivery routes are served by electric vehicles as well.
A compelling business case for electric last-mile delivery
Intelcom | Dragonfly relies on a nationwide network of independent delivery partners to fulfill its last-mile commitments. These partners are individually incorporated companies which must meet Intelcom | Dragonfly’s requirements to be approved as official delivery partners.
Intelcom | Dragonfly “champions” green deliveries with its delivery partners, providing them with accurate information on the use of EVs and on which models are best suited to serve certain routes or collection of routes. The company’s advice is always predicated on helping its delivery partners obtain EVs that will continue to produce a sustained return on investment during their lifetimes, usually six to 10 years.
To encourage the shift to electric, Intelcom | Dragonfly provides a number of incentives to its delivery partners who make the transition to electric vehicles to contribute to a cleaner, more efficient last-mile ecosystem.
Commitment to The Climate Pledge
Intelcom | Dragonfly is a signatory of The Climate Pledge, an industry-wide commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2040. While the pledge is voluntary, it has enjoyed a groundswell of support from major companies around the world. Many companies believe -- Intelcom | Dragonfly included – that more can be achieved by working together and sharing best practices than through a solo approach.
Expanding capacity and broadening our green impact
In recent months, Intelcom | Dragonfly has put in place a dedicated sustainability team within the company to formalize its de-carbonization strategy and develop additional sustainability programs. While the last-mile leg of home delivery is the most immediate priority, the company is also looking at initiatives to address both the first and middle miles.
“We’re fortunate to be building from a position of strength and industry leadership and to have work with delivery partners that adhere to our vision.”, says Victor. “It will take investments to achieve meaningful progress, investments we are quite willing to make.”