Low-Carbon Delivery: The Complete Guide to Sustainable Shipping in Montreal and Quebec

Low-carbon delivery has become a major challenge for companies that wish to reconcile speed, efficiency, and sustainable development. If fast delivery is now a normal expectation for consumers, behind every delivered package lies a much less visible reality: its environmental impact.

In Quebec, as in every place else in the world, the transportation of goods represents a significant portion of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With the continuous growth of e-commerce, the number of delivery vehicles is increasing every year, especially in major urban centers like Montreal and Quebec City.

Good news: it is now possible to combine speed, reliability, and reduced carbon emissions thanks to more sustainable logistics, route optimization, and the development of electric vehicles.

What is low-carbon delivery?

Low-carbon delivery, also called decarbonized delivery or eco-friendly delivery, refers to all practices aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by the transportation of goods.

Contrary to a common belief, it is not just about replacing gasoline vehicles with electric ones. Indeed, more sustainable logistics relies on a combination of solutions that limit the environmental footprint of each shipment while maintaining a high level of service.
Among the main practices implemented, we find in particular:

• the use of electric or low-emission vehicles;
• the intelligent optimization of routes;
• the consolidation of shipments to reduce the number of trips;
• the reduction of empty kilometers traveled;
• the improvement of packaging to limit the transported volume;
• the effective planning of deliveries to avoid unnecessary trips.

Thus, the objective is simple: deliver as much, if not more, while consuming less energy and reducing CO₂ emissions.
Moreover, this approach is now at the heart of the transformation of the logistics sector.

Why is low-carbon logistics becoming so important?

In Quebec, the transportation of goods represents a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. With the rise of e-commerce, the number of vehicles circulating daily in urban centers continues to increase, particularly in the metropolitan areas of Montreal and Quebec City.

This growth is accompanied by a paradox: consumers want to receive their orders ever more quickly, but they also place greater importance on the environmental impact of their purchases.

Consequently, companies must face a double challenge: to offer ever shorter delivery times while reducing their carbon footprint.

This evolution now affects all sectors: e-commerce, healthcare, industry, retail, public institutions, and manufacturing companies.

Low-carbon delivery vs. carbon neutral vs. net-zero: What’s the difference?

These expressions are often used as synonyms, while they refer to different realities.

On the one hand, a low-carbon delivery aims to minimize emissions produced during transport through more efficient methods.

On the other hand, carbon neutrality involves offsetting emissions that could not be avoided.

Finally, the goal of net zero emissions goes even further by eliminating emissions at the source.

For modern carriers, the priority is therefore to reduce actual emissions before considering their offsetting.

Why last-mile delivery is the biggest environmental challenge

In terms of freight transport, we often think of the long distances covered by plane or truck. However, the most polluting phase remains the very last one: the last mile.

The last mile refers to the final journey made between the distribution center and the recipient. Whether it is a business, a store, or an individual, this stage represents the most complex and costly segment of the supply chain.

In an urban environment, each delivery requires frequent stops and frequent slowdowns. Consequently, a vehicle can cover relatively few kilometers while consuming a lot of fuel.

Does faster shipping generate more carbon emissions?

Yes. The more urgent a delivery is, the more likely it is to be polluting.

When a customer demands same-day delivery or delivery within a few hours, the carrier has much less flexibility to optimize their routes or consolidate multiple packages into a single vehicle.

On the other hand, when a delivery is scheduled over a wider time slot, it becomes easy to consolidate shipments. Indeed, this allows for reducing empty trips and optimizing vehicle space.

The objective of sustainable logistics is therefore to find the best balance between speed, reliability, and environmental efficiency.

Rethinking urban logistics

Reducing last-mile emissions does not rely on a single solution but on a set of complementary best practices:

• Optimize routes using planning technologies;
• Consolidate multiple deliveries in the same area;
• Limit trips made with lightly loaded vehicles;
• Favor deliveries during periods of smoother traffic;
• Gradually integrate electric vehicles into urban fleets.

It is precisely this combination of technology, organization, and innovation that will enable companies to meet customer expectations while sustainably reducing their carbon footprint.

Key strategies for reducing carbon emissions in freight transportation

Reducing the carbon footprint of delivery does not rely on a single solution. The most successful companies combine several levers to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions without compromising speed, reliability, or customer experience.

From fleet electrification to artificial intelligence, through route optimization and shipment consolidation, each improvement contributes to making the supply chain more sustainable.

Here are the strategies that are transforming the transportation of goods today in Montreal, Quebec, and across Canada.

1. Expanding electric delivery fleets

Electrification is the most direct action to eliminate exhaust emissions in urban areas. Unlike thermal vehicles (gasoline or diesel), electric vehicles emit no GHGs during their journeys.

They offer several operational advantages: reduction in GHG emissions, decreased noise pollution, generally lower maintenance costs, and better energy efficiency during urban trips with frequent stops.

In Montreal and Quebec City, where local deliveries represent a significant part of daily activity, electric vehicles are particularly well-suited for short and medium-distance routes.

At Globex, this transition is already well underway. Our local fleet is gradually incorporating electric vehicles to carry out an increasing number of deliveries in Montreal, with a reduced environmental footprint.

This investment is part of a long-term vision: to develop more sustainable logistics while maintaining the standards of speed, reliability, and personalized service that have characterized Globex for over 30 years.

Our goal is not just to replace vehicles but to continuously improve all of our operations in order to reduce their environmental impact.

2. Optimizing delivery routes through smart technology

With the same vehicle, two identical trips can have completely different carbon footprints.
The use of smart planning tools allows for real-time analysis: traffic, roadworks, delivery density and time windows, driver geolocation…

Thanks to this data, it becomes possible to build much more efficient routes.

A truck that avoids detours naturally consumes less energy. As a result, this optimization also improves the punctuality of deliveries.

3. Consolidating shipments

The pooling of deliveries represents one of the most effective levers to reduce carbon emissions.

Rather than making several separate trips to the same geographical area, carriers consolidate multiple packages into a single vehicle to maximize its load capacity.

This approach notably allows for:

• Reduce the total number of vehicles on the road;
• Limit energy consumption;
• Decrease transportation costs;
• Reduce urban congestion.

4. Scheduling deliveries more efficiently

Congestion is one of the main factors contributing to the increase in emissions in urban areas.

A vehicle stuck in traffic continues to consume energy without moving.
For this reason, more and more companies prioritize less busy time slots whenever possible.

Deliveries made early in the morning, in the evening, or during periods when traffic is lighter often allow:

• to reduce travel time;
• to decrease energy consumption;
• to improve punctuality;
• to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

In several major cities around the world, these new practices are now part of the strategies for decarbonizing urban transport.

What are the benefits of low-emission logistics?

Reducing carbon emissions does not only benefit the environment.

More sustainable logistics also generate tangible benefits for businesses, their customers, and communities.

For Businesses

Adopting more responsible practices allows for:

• Enhance the brand image
• Meet ESG criteria and public/private tenders;
• Gradually reduce energy operating costs;
• Anticipate future environmental regulations.

Companies that invest today in more sustainable solutions are positioning themselves favorably for the years to come.

For Customers

Today’s customers are paying closer attention to how products are transported—not just how quickly they arrive.

Partnering with a logistics provider committed to reducing carbon emissions allows businesses to reinforce their own sustainability commitments while maintaining a high level of customer service.

For many brands, environmentally responsible shipping has become an important component of the overall customer experience.

For Cities and Local Governments

Greener logistics also help improve citizens’ quality of life.

Among the observed benefits are:

• Improved air quality;
• Reduced noise pollution and traffic congestion;
• Better integration of freight transport in city centers

FAQ – low-carbon emission delivery

1) What is a low-carbon delivery?
Decarbonized delivery encompasses all practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It relies notably on the electrification of vehicles, the pooling, and the optimization of routes.

2) Is an eco-friendly delivery slower?
No. Thanks to modern planning tools and new technologies, it is possible to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining fast and reliable delivery times.

3) Are electric vehicles suitable for commercial delivery?
Yes. They are particularly suitable for urban and regional deliveries, where the trips are shorter and involve many stops.

4) Does sustainable delivery cost more?
Not necessarily. Several measures aimed at reducing emissions also help improve operational efficiency and reduce certain logistical costs in the medium and long term.

5) Why call on a carrier committed to decarbonization?
Collaborating with an eco-responsible carrier allows companies to reduce their indirect carbon footprint, meet the ESG criteria of their clients, and offer ecological added value to their end customers.