ThinkResponsibleUpdate to the Sustainability Report published
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">With its update to the fourth Sustainability Report, the GLS Group provides information about its goals, activities and progress in the areas of environment, social affairs and economy. The information relates to the financial year 2019/20. The report contains results of the group-wide life cycle assessment, which GLS prepares annually to identify potential for improvement.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">GLS gives an overview of the further development of measures to protect the environment. City logistics continues to be one of the key points. Numerous GLS subsidiaries meanwhile deliver using alternative drive systems. GLS also takes care to minimise its environmental impact when building new depots or renovating existing ones – for example, by using heat pumps, solar collectors, energy-saving LED lighting or green electricity. One of the highlights of 2019 was the roll-out of GLS KlimaProtect in Germany. The programme was the starting point of fully climate-neutral parcel transport in one of the largest GLS companies.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">The diverse social engagement throughout the GLS Group is another focus of the update. In addition, GLS provides information on the developments resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, which began at the end of the reporting period. Hygiene concepts to protect all those involved in parcel transport were introduced, as were options for contactless delivery in all countries. This enabled GLS to continue fulfilling its supply mandate completely. </p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">The current report is available here: <a href="https://gls-group.com/GROUP/en/our-responsibility.html">gls-group.com</a></p>
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Big PictureHow people pay in Europe
<p>In our omnichannel world, digital payment methods are becoming increasingly more important. But the range of options is diverse – and Europeans' payment habits differ greatly in some cases. Which trends point the way to the future? </p>
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NetworkHungary: hub in Budapest again substantially expanded
<p>Just in time for the Christmas parcel boom, GLS Hungary completed the expansion of its hub in Alsónémedi near Budapest in October 2020. The company invested 17 million euros in a new, approximately 8,500 square metre hall with a modern sorting system. It increases the capacity of the site to a total of 40,000 parcels per hour.</p> <p>This is already the fourth expansion of GLS Hungary’s central transhipment hub. The first building went into operation in 2007. Three years in a row – in 2017, 2018 and 2019 – the site was extended to cope with the constantly increasing parcel volumes. Now the hub has a total handling area of around 24,200 square metres.</p> <p><strong>International connectivity</strong></p> <p>In addition to sorting and distributing national parcels, the facility near Budapest serves as an important international hub through which GLS runs linehaul transports to nine countries. Via Budapest, all countries of the Europe East region are connected to each other and to Germany, Austria and Poland.</p> <p>The expansion of the central hub is not the only investment of GLS Hungary in the network. In the financial year 2020/2021, the company will open 17 new depots in the country, thus increasing the national network to a total of 80 depots.</p>
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Big PictureDo-it-yourself during lockdown
<p>There are many good reasons for DIY projects – and Covid-19 has increased their number. Because when people are "cocooning", they wish for a beautiful home. Paint the walls fresh. Re-grout the bathroom tiles. Light up the home office workstation. Throughout Europe, home improvement projects were on the agenda in spring and summer 2020. Accordingly, the do-it-yourself (DIY) sector recorded significant sales increases. Large DIY chains report growth rates of over 20 percent in some countries.</p>
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NetworkAnniversaries in Spain, the Czech Republic and Portugal
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2020 is a very special year for three GLS companies: GLS Spain, GLS Czech Republic and GLS Portugal have been successfully active in their markets for 15 years – each with a very different history. All three celebrators have one thing in common: a continuous expansion of their networks and a successful development.</p>
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NetworkGLS Group well prepared for peak season 2020
<p>In the autumn and Christmas business, the volume of consignments always increases significantly. This year, GLS expects parcel volumes throughout Europe to reach a record level. With significant capacity expansions as well as additional staff and tours, GLS will ensure quality and performance also in the peak season.</p>
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NetworkTongeren: one location, two depots
<p>GLS Belgium has commenced operations at the new parcel depot in Tongeren at the beginning of October 2020. The separate freight terminal at the site already started in February 2020. GLS has invested about 12 million euros in the land, construction and equipment.</p>
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NetworkGLS Group successfully recertified
<p>In the summer of 2020, the quality and environmental management system of the GLS Group has been recertified in Europe for another three years – in accordance with ISO 9001 and 14001. The certificates confirm that GLS aligns its actions daily with high quality and environmental standards and continuously improves processes. GDP certification has also been confirmed in five countries and a new GDP seal has been added for Spain.</p>
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ServicesReturns service extended internationally
<p>Since October 2020, four more countries have been linked to the international returns shipment via the GLS ParcelShops. Three more countries will be added by the end of December 2020. This means that the <em>ShopReturn<strong>Service</strong></em> will achieve nearly complete coverage in Europe. It offers GLS customers and private recipients a flexible solution for national and cross-border returns.</p>
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Big PicturePoland: hidden champion in the heart of Europe
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">What do Esperanto, the bulletproof vest and the first modern oil refinery have in common? Their inventors all hail from Poland. It is a country with a tradition of diversity and innovation. Since the 1990s, the long-established but newly re-formed republic has also developed into an economic heavyweight in Europe.</p>
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NetworkGLS Germany opens EuropeanEcoHub in Essen
<p>GLS KlimaProtect at its best: At the end of September 2020, GLS Germany opened the new EuropeanEcoHub in Essen. The facility with a current capacity of 75,000 parcels per day is a strategically important element in the GLS network, both regionally and internationally. In terms of sustainable operation, GLS in Essen is setting completely new standards – among other things with a predominantly self-sufficient power supply and a biotope for amphibians.</p>
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Big PictureProper packaging for the environment
<p>The rapid growth in online trade has side effects: mountains of packaging material. To avoid unnecessary waste, clever solutions are needed that benefit both senders and the environment. Recipients are also increasingly demanding more sustainable parcel shipping – with less waste and environmentally friendly materials.</p>
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NetworkPoland: Double capacity in Poznań
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">GLS Poland has considerably expanded the depot in Poznań. Since August 2020, a new hall has been integrated, which increases the total area by about 50 percent. The number of gates for delivery vehicles almost doubled to 158, and the number of loading and unloading gates for linehaul trucks increased from 8 to 13, with the possibility of adding more.</p>
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ThinkResponsibleGLS Germany strengthens e-mobility in city logistics
<p>They are driving in Berlin, Dortmund, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Leipzig, Nuremberg, among other places and – since July 2020 – Karlsruhe: electric vehicles are on the road for GLS Germany in more and more cities. In Karlsruhe, GLS expanded its fleet by six VW e-Crafters. They enable emission-free delivery in the entire inner city area.</p>
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ServicesGLS launches international returns solution
<p>Simplified cross-border processing of returns parcels – for online shops of any size and their customers. GLS offers a flexible online portal that can be individually configured and branded. Since July 2020, it can be used for returns from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Poland. Further countries such as the UK, Spain and Portugal are being integrated.</p>
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ServicesGLS Poland: contactless payments via BLIK
<p>Recipients of GLS parcels in Poland can pay for <em>Cash<strong>Service</strong></em> shipments cashless and contactless with BLIK since May 2020. This allows them to make payments in compliance with the social distancing rules. All they have to do is provide the delivery driver with the BLIK code for the transaction and, afterwards, confirm it in the mobile application of their bank on their smartphone.<br /> <br /> BLIK is based on a common mobile payment standard the sixth biggest banks in Poland agreed on in 2013. Meanwhile, BLIK has been integrated into the mobile banking apps of 14 participating banks. Instead of a conventional bank or credit card, it can be used for secure payment in online and retail stores or for withdrawing money from cash points.</p>
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PeopleNew CEO of the GLS Group
<p>Martin Seidenberg has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the GLS Group with effect from 25 June 2020. The native German has more than 20 years’ experience in logistics. He joined the Management Board of GLS Germany at the beginning of 2015 and took over as its Chairman. Under his leadership, the largest national company of the GLS Group was able to strengthen its long-term position in the German parcel market and grow continuously.</p>
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ServicesGLS Spain introduces PharmaService
<p>GLS Spain is the sixth GLS subsidiary offering GDP-compliant shipping to its customers. The health and pharmaceutical industry is considered one of Spain’s most important economic sectors with further growth potential.<br /> <br /> “We are observing an increased demand for qualified services", says Luis Doncel, General Manager Iberia at GLS. “This has prompted us to support our customers also in the shipment of medical products with a tailor-made service that meets particularly high quality and safety standards.”<br /> <br /> In May 2020, all depots and hubs of GLS Spain have been certified by DEKRA – in accordance with the European guidelines of Good Distribution Practice of medicinal products for human use. The auditing company thus attests to the Spanish subsidiary particularly reliable, safe and hygienic procedures to ensure a strictly monitored transport chain.<br /> <br /> The <em>Pharma<strong>Service</strong></em> for non-temperature-controlled products offered by GLS Spain is not only compliant with the strict European Directive 2013/C 343/01, but offers even more advantages. Business and private recipients can have their parcels delivered by 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. They also have the option of confirming receipt of the parcel digitally on their own mobile device via the <em>ContactlessSign</em> solution.<br /> <br /> The shipments are handed over exclusively to the designated recipient. An alternative delivery, for example to a neighbour or a ParcelShop, is therefore not possible.</p>
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