For wine, beer and spirits importers, producers and distributors, sustainability is now part of everyday transport planning. Customers are asking more questions. Regulations are evolving. Internal reporting requirements are becoming more detailed. At the same time, alcoholic beverages still need to move safely, on time and in the right conditions.

Reducing transport emissions is not about one single action. It involves understanding where emissions come from, choosing relevant levers and making decisions that can help reduce estimated transport emissions depending on your routes, lead times, volumes and product requirements.

At Hillebrand Gori, we support beverage businesses with practical ways to understand, manage and help reduce estimated transport emissions across global supply chains.

What does reducing transport emissions mean?

Transport emissions are the greenhouse gas emissions associated with moving wine, beer and spirits shipments from one location to another. They can arise from sea, road, rail and air transport, as well as related handling and distribution activities.

For importers, producers and distributors, reducing emissions typically involves reviewing three main areas:

• How alcoholic beverages move
• Which routes and modes are used
• What fuel or emission-reduction options are available

Transport decisions often need to balance sustainability considerations with cost, lead time, product protection, compliance and market demand. A lower-emission option may be suitable on one route, while another lane may require a different approach due to temperature exposure, seasonal peaks or delivery timelines.

Why does transport planning matter for wine, beer and spirits?

Wine, beer and spirits have specific transport requirements. Product quality, packaging condition, labelling, documentation and delivery timing all matter. Adjusting route, mode or timing can affect more than emissions, including inventory planning, customer service and landed cost.

For this reason, emission reduction considerations need to be integrated into operational decision-making.

For example:

• A wine importer may be able to use sea freight instead of air freight when lead times are planned earlier.
• A beer distributor may reduce avoidable movements by consolidating volumes.
• A spirits producer may use emissions visibility data to compare routes and support reporting.
• A business entering a new market may review transport options before defining its launch timeline.

The most practical approach is to consider sustainability alongside lead times, cost predictability, product protection and compliance.

How can beverage businesses help reduce transport emissions?

There are several practical ways to help reduce estimated transport emissions. The most relevant combination depends on routes, volumes, timelines and product sensitivity.

1. Measure your current transport emissions

Before taking action, it is important to understand where emissions are generated.

Emissions visibility can help identify which routes, modes and movements have the highest estimated impact. This provides a starting point for decision-making and reporting.

Carbon calculators can support this process by estimating emissions across transport scenarios. These estimates depend on methodology, data quality and operational assumptions and should be treated as indicative.

For a deeper explanation, read our article: What is a Carbon Calculator and Why It Matters in Beverage Transport?

For example, they can help answer:

• Which trade lanes are associated with higher estimated emissions?
• How do different transport modes compare?
• Where could improvements be explored?
• How can reporting be supported with clearer data?

2. Review your transport mode

Transport mode is a key factor influencing emissions.

Sea freight can result in lower estimated emissions than air transport in many cases, depending on distance, load factor and calculation methodology. Rail may also be a relevant option on certain routes, particularly where it can reduce reliance on long-distance road transport.

The most appropriate option depends on business requirements. Some alcoholic beverages require faster delivery due to market or timing constraints, while others can be planned with longer lead times.

A practical review should consider:

• Delivery requirements
• Product sensitivity
• Route availability
• Cost predictability
• Inventory planning
• Seasonal variations
• Estimated emissions impact

3. Consolidate volumes where possible

Consolidation can help reduce inefficient transport movements.

This may involve combining smaller shipments or aligning orders and transport schedules more effectively.

Potential benefits include:

• Improved container utilisation
• More predictable planning
• Reduced avoidable movements
• Improved cost control
• Potentially lower estimated emissions per unit moved, depending on utilisation and routing

4. Optimise routes and lead times

Route planning can influence both emissions and operational reliability.

The emissions profile of a route depends on multiple factors, including transport mode, port pairing, inland transport, congestion and scheduling.

A route review may include:

• Reducing unnecessary inland movements
• Selecting more efficient port pairings
• Avoiding avoidable delays
• Planning earlier to access alternative options
• Aligning delivery timing with operational needs

Emission reduction efforts are typically more effective when aligned with operational requirements.

5. Protect product quality with appropriate specifications

Product protection remains essential in beverage logistics. The level of protection should depend on route conditions, season, transit time and product sensitivity.

Solutions may include:

• Temperature-controlled equipment
• Insulation liners
• Seasonal route planning
• Monitoring tools such as data loggers

Selecting appropriate protection levels helps balance product integrity, operational efficiency and sustainability considerations.

6. Consider sustainable fuel options

Sustainable Marine Fuel (SMF) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) can help reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional fossil fuels, depending on feedstock, production pathway and calculation methodology.

These solutions are often implemented using a book and claim model. In this system, the environmental attributes of fuel are allocated through a verified chain-of-custody process. This means the physical fuel may not necessarily be used on the specific shipment.

Sustainable fuels are typically one component of a broader approach that may also include improvements in planning, routing, mode selection and utilisation.

Because fuel solutions need careful explanation, we cover this topic in more detail here: Sustainable fuels and their role in lowering transport emissions for wine, beer and spirits

7. Integrate emissions into procurement and planning

Considering emissions alongside cost and service criteria during procurement and planning can support more informed decision-making.

This may include evaluating:

• Mode and routing options
• Transit times
• Estimated emissions data
• Product protection needs
• Reporting requirements
• Fuel availability
• Service reliability

8. Start with priority trade lanes

A practical starting point is to focus on trade lanes with:

• Higher volumes
• Frequent movements
• Potential for operational adjustments

Key questions include:

• Which routes are used most often?
• Where are estimated emissions highest?
• Where is consolidation feasible?
• Where can lead times be adjusted?
• Where are alternative options available?
  

How does regulation affect transport emissions planning?

Transport emissions are increasingly linked to regulation and cost.

For example, frameworks such as the EU Emissions Trading System and FuelEU Maritime are influencing how emissions are accounted for in maritime transport. These developments may affect cost structures, routing decisions and carrier selection.

For beverage businesses, emissions are therefore both a sustainability and a planning consideration.

You can read more here: EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime: What alcoholic beverage importers need to know

A practical emission reduction approach

A structured approach can support implementation:

Step 1: Measure
Assess estimated emissions across routes, modes and movements.

Step 2: Prioritise
Focus on areas where changes may be most practical and relevant.

Step 3: Review options
Compare transport modes, routes and operational requirements.

Step 4: Identify levers
Consider consolidation, modal changes, routing and fuel options.

Step 5: Implement and monitor
Track performance and adjust where needed.

Step 6: Scale
Apply insights to additional routes and operations.

How Hillebrand Gori can support with transport-emission reductions

Reducing transport emissions involves practical, route-specific decisions.

Hillebrand Gori supports wine, beer and spirits businesses with tools and expertise to:

• Review transport options
• Estimate emissions
• Compare scenarios
• Protect product quality
• Explore sustainable fuel solutions

Disclaimer

Emission estimates and comparisons in this article are indicative and depend on specific operational conditions, methodologies and data availability. Actual results may vary.

* GoGreen Plus is a value-added service to a DHL shipment contributing to decarbonization measures within DHL’s logistics network. By using alternative fuels and/or technologies DHL reduces the usage of fossil fuels in the mode of transport used for the GoGreen Plus shipment. This does not necessarily mean that the specific shipment is physically transported with the assets using these fuels or technologies. Further information, e.g. on concrete decarbonization measures is available here.