Sustainability

As a leading European parcel logistics provider, the GLS Group is fully aware of its special responsibility to the environment and to society.

GLS electric delivery van charges at a depot

GLS understands sustainability as a holistic concept – including ecological as well as social and economic aspects of social responsibility.

This means providing excellence in parcel logistics for customers and job-security for employees, both going hand in hand. With its service GLS also contributes to mobility and the reliable supply of goods, which are the backbone of economy.

It is the Group’s objective to achieve sustainable economic success in accordance with the protection of the environment for future generations. GLS also considers itself committed to the society in and for which it operates.

Sustainability and environmental protection are an integral part of the GLS logistics strategy

The goal of climate protect is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide, which are released into the atmosphere as a result of human activities and contribute to global warming. Additionally, climate protect supports the adaptation of societies and ecosystems to the impacts of climate change. This is not only a technological or economic issue but also an ethical and social responsibility.

GLS aims to increasingly use alternative vehicles and city logistics concepts for parcel transport and to involve our transport partners in these activities.

To continuously transform the vehicle fleet for parcel transport, adding more electric vans, light vehicles, and alternative fuel vehicles to the delivery network. Additionally, we are making our corporate car fleet more and more environmentally friendly.

To continuously reduce resource consumption at our locations in relation to our parcel volume and to invest in the modernisation of locations, e.g. through the use of photovoltaic systems.

Eco footprint

GLS continuously monitors and records its achievements in environment protection.

Since 2008/2009, the company has been conducting eco-footprint calculations for all member companies of the Group. We collect data on our transport vehicles and resources, which forms the basis for calculating the amount of carbon emissions.

The calculation of transport emissions is certified according to EN 16258 and it's part of the overall Corporate Carbon Footprint calculation.

GLS calculates all emissions as CO2 equivalents (CO2e). As a result, greenhouse gas emissions other than CO2 are included.

The calculation considers the well-to-wheel CO2e emissions. This means, considered are the emissions from fuel generation until the use in road traffic.

Sustainability reports Download the certification

Responsible use of renewable resources

In the spirit of sustainability and in order to reduce its ecological footprint, GLS considers it important to join the effort to increase the share of renewable energy sources.

At GLS General Logistics Systems Hungary Ltd. Headquater in Alsonémedi, we uses 100% electricity from renewable energy sources. (In practice, this means that GLS uses renewable energy, which means less environmental impact. In everyday use, this means that the green electricity is delivered to the company via our existing electricity grid, without any extra investment.)

The expansion of the solar panel and heat pump system at the central sorting facility was completed in the spring of 2024. Currently, a solar panel system with a peak capacity of 260 kW produces renewable energy for on-site use.

To save energy, we have accomplished relamping projects with LED technology.

GLS Group’s sustainability efforts rewarded with EcoVadis Silver Certificate.

GLS Group’s sustainability efforts have been rewarded with the EcoVadis Silver Certificate. EcoVadis looks at a range of metrics under the categories: Environment, Sustainable Procurement, Ethics, Labour & Human Rights, rating companies against the highest possible standard. GLS Group’s environmental impact score of 90/100 puts the company among the 2% top-rated companies in the postal, courier and freight transport industry within the Environmental category. Overall, GLS is in the top 6% of companies in the postal, courier and freight transport industry assessed by EcoVadis.

ISO Certification

GLS guarantees, checks and improves quality and sustainability with a pan-European quality and environmental management system. It is certified to DIN ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 by DEKRA, one of the largest and highly respected international providers of management system certifications.
With its quality management system GLS fulfils high, internationally recognised standards.

ISO 9001:2015 is an international standard that includes the principles and requirements of quality management systems. It serves as the foundation of quality management for numerous companies and organizations worldwide. Its aim is to help companies improve quality and increase customer satisfaction.

ISO 14001 is part of the ISO 14000 family of standards dealing with environmental management systems. The ISO 14001 standard prescribes the fundamental rules by which a company can develop its operations with an effective environmentally focused approach. It also outlines the related tools that are cost-effective, system-based, and flexible, reflecting the best organizational practices that communicate actionable, integrable, and relevant environmental information.

Seal of approval for environmental management

GLS is an environmentally-conscious company and implements sustainability projects in all its national subsidiaries. 18 subsidiaries have obtained the ISO 14001 certification for their environmental management systems. This internationally accepted standard is considered to be one of the most important in relation to environmental management by manufacturers and service providers.

ISO 9001:2015 certification ISO 14001:2015 certification