Earlier it was Amsterdam, Zaltbommel and Utrecht's turn.
DHL Parcel recently opened its fourth new national parcel sorting center in four years in Dordrecht. Earlier it was Amsterdam, Zaltbommel and Utrecht's turn. In the space of eighteen months, a sorting center has been built on sustainable business park DistriPark Dordrecht along the Dordtse Kil, according to the highest official sustainability standard.
The 132 CityHubs in the country are supplied from this sorting center. In addition, there is a direct connection to the 14 regional sorting centers. The maximum capacity is 200.000 parcels per day; about 15% of the volume that is processed daily. With the opening of this CentralHub, as the sorting center is officially called, an investment of € 45 million is completed, as part of a multi-year investment programme. The CentralHub Dordrecht provides employment to 150 people.
“By investing in capacity and quality, we are seeing a growing market share. In doing so, we are increasingly setting the tone in the Dutch market; also when it comes to sustainability and good labor relations.”
Sustainable and unique network
DHL Parcel has grown strongly in recent years. In the delivery of consumers, DHL now has a market share of 40% in 2021. The company will also show positive growth in 2022. That share was achieved thanks to an investment program amounting to 2018 million euros from 600 to next year. Investments relate to sorting and delivery capacity, making buildings more sustainable and electrification of the delivery fleet and digitization through, among other things, apps with intervention options for recipients.
Furthermore, with the growth of the number of employees, to now more than 10.000, an organizational culture with short lines and cross-functional teams has been built. Much attention is paid to the sustainable employability and development of personnel, with DHL employing the majority of the deliverers itself.
This development has resulted in a decisive organization and a digitally supported network that, through a combination of national, regional and local hubs and local service points, can respond to varying capacity needs at web shops and can offer various service windows to recipients.
Highest sustainability standard
CentralHub Dordrecht measures ten football fields and is built according to the highest BREEAM sustainability requirement: 5 stars 'outstanding'. This is reflected in the materials used, such as the roof construction made of sustainable wood. There are solar panels on the roof itself, which provide energy during the day; purchased electricity is green. There is no gas connection. The roofs of outbuildings are covered with vegetation and greenery grows between the concrete tiles in the parking lot. All green areas are designed to attract insects and small animals such as bats and hedgehogs. Inside there is plenty of natural light.
27 new City Hubs
Parcels are delivered from the sorting centers such as CentralHub Dordrecht to the 132 CityHubs, which are located on the edge of urban areas throughout the Netherlands. From there, small delivery vans travel the last kilometers to the recipients in short delivery rounds. These CityHubs are also undergoing an investment process towards further sustainability and more capacity. In the next three years, 27 CityHubs will be newly built; all climate neutral, built according to the BREEAM outstanding 5 star sustainability standard and to the latest logistics requirements.
Five new CityHubs have already been opened this year, in Almere, Zoetermeer, Geleen, Breda and Nijmegen. A sixth will open next month in Tilburg. Construction has started or is about to start in twelve places in the country and suitable plots are still being sought in ten places. Only electric delivery vans will be driven from the new CityHubs.
Towards a fossil-free last mile in 2023
The final delivery to the consumer plays an important role in making the transport and sorting process of online orders more sustainable. In that context, DHL is rapidly electrifying its fleet. With 2.000 electric vans by the end of this year, DHL is leading the way in electrification. Another 500 electric delivery vans will be added next year.
What is not yet possible electrically, will be switched to HVO-100 diesel. An alternative fuel with up to 90% less CO2 emissions. DHL has set its ambition to be fossil-free by mid-2023. The number of service points has now grown to 4.000 and the number of parcel safes will also increase to 500 in the near future.
The sustainability effect of these delivery options is enhanced in combination with all the digital intervention options that recipients have when choosing accurate delivery windows and delivery to an agreed place or to a service point.
