Product Responsibility
We support these Sustainable Development Goals
with our measures:
Smart components save weight and increase efficiency
The weight of a trailer has a major effect on its carbon footprint. Lighter materials therefore offer many advantages: The payload is increased, energy consumption is reduced – which saves CO2 and costs.
BPW optimises products accordingly and designs components to be lighter, but at the same time robust and durable. For example, the company offers an extra-light aluminium hub for lightweight trailers and especially for tankers and silo vehicles. The forged component saves a whole 54 kilograms of weight in the three-axle unit. This means, for example, that about 64 litres more can be added to a heating oil transport. Another example: the robust trailer running gear ECO Air, which can be used for both on-road and light off-road applications, reduces the weight of the three-axle unit by 27 kilograms.
When driving unloaded or when the vehicle is only partially loaded, the lower vehicle weight also reduces fuel consumption. If the additional payload is utilised, this saves journeys, the environment is protected and CO2 emissions are reduced.
New brand for e-trucks
There are still few sustainably powered commercial vehicles on the market: BPW has taken the initiative and developed its own 7.5-tonne truck, BAX. The e-truck for zero-emission inner-city logistics has been developed in cooperation with Paul Nutzfahrzeuge as well as hauliers and body specialists. BAX 7.5 can carry a net payload of up to four tonnes. This means it can shoulder bodies of all kinds, whether container shuttles, cherry pickers, tankers or refuse collection vehicles. The electrically driven rear axle eTransport with two electric motors brings a torque of 3,290 Newton metres each to the wheels. In less than 60 minutes, the vehicle is charged from 20 to 80 per cent, and the range is up to 200 kilometres: this was not determined in the laboratory, but measured in real-life use.
The driver sits in the BAX almost at eye level with cyclists. This makes it easier to get in and out of the car, but also ensures greater safety in traffic – just like comprehensive assistance systems that include lane departure warning, emergency braking and turn assist as well as a rear view camera. BAX 7.5 is equipped with telematics as standard – this can be used to optimise the efficiency of transports.
BPW is also working on a sustainable solution for refrigerated trailers: together with Thermo King, BPW is developing an economically and ecologically efficient system based on recuperation: BPW’s ePower axle recovers energy from the rotational movement of the wheels during driving and braking and makes it available to Thermo King’s cooling unit. This reduces diesel consumption for cooling by up to 4,000 litres per year – and thus also saves a lot of CO2. Sustainable innovations are particularly important for the temperature-controlled transport market: conventional units in refrigerated trailers are operated with a separate diesel engine that causes noise and emits CO2 and other exhaust gases.
According to legal regulations, these aggregates do not even have to meet the Euro 6 standard for diesel vehicles. Electrically powered commercial vehicles also offer even more potential: they open up new delivery options. For example, a low-noise refrigerated vehicle could be used to deliver to supermarkets at night or early in the morning. In the Netherlands, many cities and municipalities are already setting up “zero-emission zones” where only emission-free delivery is possible.
Use data – increase efficiency
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Good load securing is also essential for the safety of transports. It can save lives: According to estimates, 20 to 25 percent of accidents in heavy goods transport are caused by loads that have not been secured or have not been secured sufficiently. With the BPW iGurt, load securing is much easier: a sensor is fastened to the tensioning strap with this smart tool, which continuously measures the pre-tensioning force and displays it on the housing. The data gathered is sent to a smartphone app for the driver – he thus can see immediately if there is a deviation and can react accordingly. The iGurt and the app are intuitive to use and can also be networked with telematics systems in the future. Haulage companies can thus also check and document the load securing in their vehicles remotely. In the future, the technology could even enable load securing checks to be done remotely.
Raw materials of the highest quality
Quality begins with the raw materials, preliminary products and components of a product: to ensure that they are of the highest quality, BPW concludes extensive agreements with suppliers. These undertake to protect employees and the environment, to comply with laws on chemicals and hazardous substances, and to ensure the safety of machinery. In addition, BPW expects these partners to continually expand and improve their commitment to environmental protection – for example, in conformity with DIN ISO 14001 and/or Regulation (EC) No. 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (EMAS).
The suppliers with whom BPW works are also committed to the RoHS EC Directives and the REACH Regulation. The ROHS Directive restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. The REACH regulation stands for the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals in the EU
In 2019, BPW additionally extended its supplier contracts and conditions of purchase by child rights/child labour. Suppliers thus pledge theirself to recognise the rights of children in the performance of their services and to refrain from child labour.
Own audit concept ensures quality
With its own audit concept, BPW ensures that all suppliers work according to defined criteria. Since 2019, this quality assurance measure has also taken into account topics such as occupational safety and child labour. The company’s supply chain management conducts the audits at set regular intervals.
“Our suppliers should share our values. For us, it is therefore crucial for a cooperation that they commit to sustainability and implement concrete measures to ensure that occupational safety is guaranteed and that the ban on child labour is observed.”
Certification according to automotive standards
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Reuse pallets and packaging
In the case of pallets and wood, the company is making increasing use of used pallets: these are obtained from organised waste disposal companies or reprocessed via suppliers.
Disposable packaging and supplier packaging that is returned to BPW by customers is sorted internally and put to new use wherever possible. This is also the practice at other companies in the BPW Group, such as M. Busch GmbH & Co. KG, BPW Hungária and F. Hesterberg & Söhne GmbH & Co. KG.
