CO₂ emissions in the transport sector: the STEF Group is staying on track with its commitments

Through our Moving Green initiative, launched in 2021, we have set ourselves a specific target: to reduce the CO2 emissions of our vehicles by 30 per cent by 2030, compared with 2019.
We measure these emissions in grams of CO₂ per tonne transported per kilometre (gCO₂e/t.km). This unit relates our emissions to our actual activity: it enables us to compare our performance year on year, regardless of the volumes transported.

Why are we prioritising our vehicles? Because they account for nearly a quarter of the Group’s carbon footprint. Taking action in this area therefore activates one of the most impactful levers in our decarbonisation efforts.

To achieve this, we are combining several complementary approaches: reducing fuel consumption, upgrading our fuels and rethinking on-board refrigeration. Let’s look at these in more detail.

Reducing consumption first

The first step is not to switch to a different fuel, but to use less of it. We are constantly optimising our transport routes, our load factors and the fuel efficiency of our engines. Every year, we train more than 400 drivers in eco-driving, a practice that has a direct impact on day-to-day fuel consumption

The results speak for themselves: since 2019, we have reduced our vehicles’ fuel consumption by over 12 per cent. This reduction is down to improvements in engine energy efficiency and the optimisation of our operations. That’s a significant reduction in emissions, without even having switched to a different fuel yet.

Developing our fuels

The second, and arguably the most powerful, lever is the fuel itself. We are making steady progress with biofuels (B100 biodiesel, HVO, BioNGV), which we are rolling out according to the regions and available supply chains.

By the end of 2025, more than 800 alternative-fuel vehicles (lorries and tractor units) will be in operation for the Group, representing over 20 per cent of our fleet. These powertrains significantly reduce emissions compared to diesel, to varying degrees depending on the fuel.

At the same time, we are trialling electric vehicles for some of our operations, in order to assess their suitability before any large-scale roll-out.
 

Rethinking on-board refrigeration

More specific to our industry, on-board refrigeration is also the focus of our work: thermal refrigeration units are gradually being replaced by electric solutions. Whilst this change is smaller in scale, it touches on what makes refrigerated transport unique.

None of these initiatives would work without the men and women who put them into practice every day.

The Group’s support functions constantly monitor innovations: they identify promising solutions, conduct new tests on vehicles, on-board refrigeration units or electric charging points, and consider how these can be adapted for use in the field.

This work is made possible by the collaboration of the operators at our sites. It is they who inform these discussions with their practical feedback, and who enable the Group to move forward.

Where do we stand? In 2025, CO₂ emissions from our vehicles fell by 33.8% compared with 2019 (in gCO₂e/t.km). We have therefore exceeded our 2030 target five years ahead of schedule.

This result confirms one thing: our combined efforts are bearing fruit. These advances encourage us to continue the discussions we have begun on updating our climate ambition across our entire geographical scope, in line with the challenges and developments that lie ahead.