Sustainability in the global supply chain is becoming increasingly important. There are a growing number of customers of Third-Party Logistics Providers (3PLs) looking for partners that can demonstrate measurable sustainability efforts. The various ways to effectively decrease a company’s environmental impact continue to grow. Armstrong & Associates’ (A&A’s) research has identified several sustainability efforts being implemented in today’s global supply chain. A few of them are outlined below.

Energy-Efficiency and Automation in the Warehouse

It takes a lot of energy to operate a warehouse, making energy efficiency a major opportunity for carbon reduction. Many 3PLs are using LED lighting, motion detectors, and smart climate-control systems to reduce energy waste. Some 3PLs are also incorporating better insulation and natural lighting to minimize electricity usage in new facilities. Green building certifications are also being obtained to demonstrate commitment to sustainability. Automated systems are also helping reduce power consumption by improving workflow efficiency and minimizing equipment idle time. These improvements often deliver quick returns through lower utility bills while also supporting environmental targets.

Some 3PLs are investing in renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Solar panels installed on warehouse rooftops can generate significant amounts of electricity, especially for large fulfillment centers with expansive roof space.

For example, U.S.-based Americold provides extensive refrigerated and frozen warehousing, along with value-added services, for food products. Its global warehousing network covers 55 million square feet in 231 temperature-controlled warehouses, 186 of which are in North America. The rest are in Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and South America. Recent partnerships with RSA Cold Chain and DP World will expand its reach in the Middle East and India. In 2024, Americold invested over $18 million in 25 sustainability projects, generating 22 million kWh in annual energy savings. 26 facilities earned Energy Star certification, and their renewable energy efforts produced 24,159 MWh that year. Over 64% of Americold’s global warehouse portfolio uses energy-efficient lighting. The company’s goal is to generate 150,000 MWh of renewable energy annually by 2030.

Germany-based Arvato expanded its North American warehousing footprint by 48% over 2024, to 7.4 million square feet across 19 warehouses. Its U.S. locations include Las Vegas, NV; Louisville, KY; Memphis, TN; Pleasant Prairie, WI; Miami, FL; Easton, PA; Ontario; and Valencia, CA. In Canada, it has operations in Toronto and Vancouver. Globally, Arvato has 104 logistics sites covering over 35.5 million square feet across 17 countries. The company partners with major technology providers such as Microsoft, AutoStore, and Boston Dynamics to deliver customized supply chain solutions tailored to clients’ needs. As a technology-driven supply chain manager with an e-commerce warehousing and fulfillment focus, Arvato serves many well-known global brands in several industries, including fashion, beauty and lifestyle, high-tech, telecommunications, automotive, and healthcare. Arvato has 100% renewable electricity across all global sites since 2023, has installed over 360,000 square meters of solar panels, and is pursuing a 50% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2030 vs. 2018.

Optimizing Transportation Routes with AI

Advanced route-optimization software powered by artificial intelligence is helping 3PLs reduce fuel consumption by planning more efficient delivery routes. These systems go well beyond basic GPS routing. They ingest real-time traffic, weather, road closures, delivery windows, vehicle capacity, fuel costs, and driver hours-of-service data, then use machine learning to recalculate the most efficient paths continuously. Unlike traditional static routing, AI adjusts dynamically as conditions change mid-route. Industry-wide, companies report 15–30% fuel savings within the first quarter of implementation.

In addition to environmental benefits, better routing improves delivery speed and customer satisfaction. Many 3PLs have or are integrating these tools directly into their transportation management systems (TMS) to maximize efficiency. The trend is moving from simple route optimization to full network-level orchestration. Where AI doesn’t just plan individual routes but coordinates entire freight networks to eliminate empty miles, match capacity in real time, and make continuous adjustments. The biggest ROI comes from integrating route AI directly into the TMS rather than as a bolt-on separate tool. As AI technology continues to mature, route optimization is becoming a standard practice for 3PLs seeking both operational excellence and measurable sustainability improvements. A few 3PL examples include:

C.H. Robinson’s “Lean AI”: Custom AI agents reduced complex freight order processing (quoting, tracking, routing) from hours to 90 seconds. AI targets specific waste — such as missed LTL pickups — reducing unnecessary trips in carrier networks. These efficiencies are projected to add ~$50 million in operating income by 2026.

Werner Enterprises’ EDGE TMS: Its AI-powered TMS delivered a 20% productivity improvement in brokerage loads per employee, using conversational AI for load management and notifications alongside route optimization.

Schneider’s FreightPower: Its AI-powered digital marketplace matches carriers to preferred lanes in real time, keeping trucks loaded and reducing empty miles. Its proprietary Schneider ETAi automates arrival/departure updates, eliminating manual check-ins so drivers focus on productive miles.

J.B. Hunt’s 360° Marketplace: Its AI-driven platform filled over 1 million potentially empty miles in a single year by matching J.B. Hunt’s internal fleet with third-party capacity. The system continuously optimizes to minimize deadhead miles.

Sustainability and ESG Compliance

For most 3PL customers, transportation and warehousing fall under Scope 3 emissions—the hardest category to measure because the data resides with their 3PLs. As reporting requirements for Scope 3 emissions become stricter under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the SEC’s climate disclosure regulations, real-time CO₂ dashboards for each shipment, transportation lane, and mode are becoming essential. As regulations tighten, 3PL customers increasingly need their 3PLs to provide verified, granular emissions data. The 3PLs that do this well are becoming indispensable partners, not just service providers.

Green routing algorithms assess emissions alongside cost and transit time, allowing 3PL customers to select lower-carbon options when the trade-off is acceptable. Additionally, blockchain-based emission audits provide verifiable sustainability data for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reports, investor disclosures, and customer-facing claims. Furthermore, data-driven modal shift analysis can identify opportunities to shift from ocean to rail or from air to ocean transport without significantly impacting service quality.

3PL customers want supply chain partners that support their environmental goals and help them meet ESG targets.

DHL’s GoGreen Dashboard & GoGreen Plus is the industry benchmark. Launched in 2023, the GoGreen Dashboard gives customers a centralized, interactive view of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across every DHL division they use — broken down by shipment, lane, mode, and time period (monthly/quarterly/annual). Both well-to-wheel (WtW) and tank-to-wheel (TtW) CO2e data are provided, externally verified, and compliant with the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) Framework and GHG Protocol. GoGreen Plus customers automatically receive reports on their CO2e savings with financial data, ready to plug directly into ESG disclosures.

The shift is clear — 3PLs that can’t provide verified, shipment-level emissions data are increasingly being screened out of RFPs, especially from large multinational shippers subject to CSRD or with Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) commitments. The most advanced providers are offering:

• Shipment-level carbon accounting (not just fleet averages)

• GLEC Framework & GHG Protocol compliance

• Third-party verification of emissions data

To learn more about current trends and sustainability initiatives being implemented in the global 3PL market, join us on May 12, when Armstrong & Associates (A&A), in partnership with The Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society and CargoNOW, will host its annual 3PL Value Creation Asia Summit in Singapore.

The Summit brings together senior executives from 3PLs, investment community leaders, and technology innovators to network and share cutting-edge ideas for achieving growth in 2026 and beyond.

This unique event offers an in-depth exploration of the operational, financial, and technological aspects of the global 3PL industry.

Key panel discussions at this year’s summit, revealing A&A’s latest marketing sizing estimates, and 3PL market trends and insights across Asia and globally, include “Global and Regional 3PL Market Trends,” Tariff Impacts and Global Trade Dynamics,” and “International Transportation Management Trends.”

For more information about this event or to join us as an attendee, speaker, or sponsor, please visit: https://www.3plogistics.com/3pl-value-creation-asia-summit-2026/.