Team Up for Innovating Tomorrow: Ritter and Südzucker Team Up with Spedition Kleemann for Electrification in Sugar Supply
This summer, Südzucker started supplying sugar to its customer Ritter located in Waldenbuch, Germany, via electric trucks. One more step taken on Südzucker’s road to a more sustainable future and net-zero. Every step – or in this case kilometer – counts when it is about reducing CO2 emissions. We are delighted that our partnership with Ritter and Kleemann Transporte is taking the next step in this decades-long, trusting collaboration. In that regard we interviewed Christoph Zwalinna, Head of Intralogistics at Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG about this new joint project.
Südzucker: What is your role at Ritter and in the joint project with Südzucker involving sugar deliveries by electric trucks?
C. Zwalinna: I am responsible for intralogistics at Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG and thus also for all processes relating to goods deliveries at the Waldenbuch plant. The project therefore falls directly within my area of responsibility.
Sustainability plays a central role throughout our company, which means that aspects such as CO₂ reduction and environmentally friendly transport solutions are also consistently taken into account in logistics.
The project makes a direct contribution to CO₂ reduction and to strengthening a more sustainable supply chain, thus consistently contributing to our sustainability goals.
Südzucker: How and why was this collaboration between Südzucker and Ritter initiated?
C. Zwalinna: We embarked on our journey towards climate neutrality over 20 years ago. In 2022, we took another step forward and joined the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). As part of this process, a scientific basis was used to calculate the emissions reduction we need to achieve in order to meet the United Nations’ 1.5 degree target.
This resulted in our ambitious goal of reducing our emissions by 42% by 2030. This reduction affects our entire supply chain, including both the emissions we can directly influence and those we cannot, i.e. the emissions of our suppliers. Sustainable emission reduction can therefore only be achieved in close cooperation with our suppliers.
Christoph Zwalinna
Head of Intralogistics
Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG“We have a long-standing and trusting partnership with Südzucker, within which we share a common understanding of quality and sustainability. It was also the willingness of Südzucker and, of course, Kleemann that made the project possible.”
In the area of logistics, effective measures can be taken to reduce emissions, for example by switching to low-emission vehicles. Having already successfully electrified our own factory transport, our goal is now to extend this to partnerships with suppliers. Discussions with Südzucker began in 2022, and it quickly became clear that we would be embarking on this journey together.
Südzucker: Why did you choose Südzucker as a partner for this first external e-truck supply?
C. Zwalinna: On the one hand, we have a long-standing and trusting partnership with Südzucker, within which we share a common understanding of quality and sustainability. It was also the willingness of Südzucker and, of course, Kleemann that made the project possible.
On the other hand, the logistical parameters are very well suited. Regular deliveries are made via a suitable transport route, which offers ideal conditions for the use of electric trucks in terms of current storage options. In addition, sufficiently long downtimes during unloading allow for easy recharging of the batteries. We have created a special charging infrastructure at the unloading point for this purpose.
Südzucker: What current and future challenges is Ritter hoping to tackle with this partnership and do you plan to scale this up?
C. Zwalinna: We want to show that electric mobility can function reliably in freight transport. We have had very good experiences with this so far, both with our own factory transport and with Südzucker and Kleemann.
In the future, we would therefore like to expand delivery with electric lorries to include other suppliers. Of course, the parameters must be right for this. For example, long-distance delivery is not yet possible without challenges. Current electric trucks already have a range of up to 500 kilometres, but nationwide use requires a much denser network of suitable charging infrastructure, such as megawatt charging for fast charging.
What is certain is that we are continuously working to reduce our emissions and are also consistently developing our logistics towards electrification.
Südzucker: What is the greatest benefit for you and Ritter, in such a strategic partnership with Südzucker, when it comes to sustainability?
C. Zwalinna: In addition to the important reduction in CO₂ emissions, this project makes a significant contribution to reducing exhaust and noise emissions in the vicinity of our plant.
Such long-term partnerships often form the basis for sustainable cooperation and innovation. Projects like this show that technological progress and sustainability are not contradictory, but that economic activity can also be in harmony with our environment.
Südzucker: Thank you very much, Christoph, for taking the time and answering some of our questions regarding this future-oriented project. We are looking forward to many more years of sustainable collaboration.
