PROJECT HISTORY
The challenge
J.B. Hunt had ambitious goals to improve the sustainability of their business, but they needed a trusted advisor to help accelerate their progress.
J.B. Hunt
Helping to reduce the environmental impact of a large transportation and logistics company
The solution
Arcadis partnered with J.B. Hunt to advance their sustainability journey with a climate risk analysis and a focus on GHG emissions reduction.
The impact
J.B. Hunt is taking deliberate action to reduce the carbon footprint of their operations and to be a sustainability leader for the industry.
3.6 million
MT CO2e Estimated emissions avoided by converting over-the-road loads to intermodal in 2022
29,000+
MT CO2e Emissions avoided through continued fleet modernization and improved fuel efficiency in 2022
6.9 million
Incremental gallons of biogenic fuel from increased renewable diesel consumptions (11-14% year-over-year)
The challenge
Freight transportation plays a crucial role in the U.S. economy, as 55 million tons of goods move around the country every day, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Millions of consumers and virtually every industry, from medical to manufacturing, rely heavily on freight transportation for the shipment of products and supplies—but while it is a critical component of our supply chain, it’s also a top contributor of greenhouse gas emissions.
Though consumers and the freight sector itself have begun to prioritize decarbonization, transportation and logistics providers face a myriad of barriers to doing so. In fact, a 2014 study by the Sustainable Development Solution Network named freight transport as one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonize. Despite this challenge, J.B. Hunt understands that its stakeholders expect meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has partnered with Arcadis to accelerate their sustainability ambitions.
The solution
In 2019, J.B. Hunt engaged Arcadis to help develop their sustainability program, advise on important public climate disclosures and ensure their ability to meet customer, investor and employee expectations.
Arcadis supported in calculating the company’s annual GHG emissions inventory, producing the company’s first annual sustainability report in 2020, preparing environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) disclosures, developing ambitious science based GHG reduction targets and recommending opportunities to increase renewable energy development. This process also included a materiality assessment, questionnaire responses and reviews for sustainability ratings agencies such as CDP, S&P Global and EcoVadis, as well both physical risk and climate risk scenario analyses.
As a result of the climate scenario analysis, Arcadis identified shifting from trucking to intermodal shipping—prioritizing trains for domestic shipping instead of diesel-powered freight trucks—as a key opportunity for J.B. Hunt as it prepares for a shift toward a low-carbon economy. Intermodal shipping is a much cleaner option compared to other transport modes and is already a key component of J.B. Hunt’s business model. Leveraging this strength would allow J.B. Hunt to expand intermodal shipping options for customers looking to reduce their Scope 3 transport emissions.
The impact
Arcadis’ support has enabled J.B. Hunt to establish a robust sustainability program and make credible progress in the reduction of fossil-based fuels while evaluating business opportunities, like increased intermodal shipping, that prevent harm to the environment. As one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, J.B. Hunt is helping advance the transportation industry’s progress by developing sustainable solutions that are commercially viable and scalable for widespread adoption, reducing the industry’s environmental impact in a lasting way.
