Electric truck shuttle helps Switzerland go green
As a long-standing logistics partner of Mars Switzerland, we are committed to innovative and climate-friendly retail logistics together with our customers. Since 2024, we have been using a fully electric truck shuttle to distribute chocolate bars and other Mars products. Low-emission deliveries to Coop and Migros, combined with optimal vehicle utilisation, reduce the environmental footprint of each individual product. The electric truck shuttle is part of Mars’ Net Zero by 2050 action plan. Accordingly, the global family-owned company aims to drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions on European roads and save around 15 million tonnes worldwide compared to the base year 2015.
Optimum modal split for highly efficient component logistics
For Thermoplan, the fully automatic coffee machine specialist based in Weggis, we collect components from around 25 suppliers throughout Switzerland and deliver them to the nearest Planzer Group rail centre. From there, the components travel overnight by train to Seewen in the canton of Schwyz. There, our logistics partner loads them, bundles them into the requested units and delivers them to Thermoplan on a just-in-time basis. Our regional proximity to the component manufacturers shortens transport distances and speeds up response times for both us and Thermoplan. We also avoid expensive and carbon-intensive empty journeys by efficiently consolidating goods across the rail network. Since the launch of this logistics concept for Thermoplan, we have been able to halve the road kilometres required per pallet from 100 to 50.
Save environmentally harmful resources with reusable containers
In partnership with our customer Baubedarf RICHNER in Härkingen and the building materials specialist HGC, we have introduced a sustainable delivery method. For the approximately 30 shops operated by BMS Building Materials Suisse, we use reusable plastic pallets instead of conventional wooden Euro pallets. In doing so, we are acting sustainably in two ways: we reduce the consumption of wood and do not use any stretch film to secure the load. This environmentally friendly approach is part of RICHNER, HGC and Planzer’s joint efforts to conserve resources and make the supply chains of all parties involved more sustainable.
Share the costs, double the value with multi-user warehousing
We have established a multi-user warehouse at our storage facility in Villmergen. This central warehouse is shared by several different customers. By sharing storage space, technology and staff, they can work more efficiently. This shared use reduces storage costs for individual customers, as the fixed costs are spread across multiple users. In addition, a multi-user warehouse allows for flexible usage based on demand and seasonality, which in turn optimises resource utilisation.
Reusable wine boxes for a clever circular economy
Wine retailer Delinat has been using our premium parcel service to ship its organic wines ever since the launch of Planzer Parcel. We developed a reusable shipping box for Delinat customers in Switzerland and launched it in 2019. Wine consumers can leave this reusable box outside their front door in time for their next delivery, and Planzer Parcel drivers will collect it automatically. By returning and reusing the wine boxes, we were able to extend the product life cycle of the boxes and halve the need for new ones. In this way, we are working with Delinat to support a low-waste circular economy.
Truck tarpaulins on the road to eternal life
At the end of 2024, we launched a pioneering project to develop infinitely circular truck tarpaulins together with our long-standing partner and lifestyle accessories expert FREITAG. Six of our trucks and five trailers were fitted with test tarpaulins. The vehicles were on the road for different periods of time in order to simulate the ageing process of the material in everyday life. In the summer of 2025, the first circular tarpaulins returned from their long journey. This marked the start of the next test phase, which aimed to provide answers regarding their suitability as bags, both in production and in use. The final step towards circularity is recycling. Once all pilot phases have been completed, production is set to take place on an industrial scale. We’re proud to be supporting our truck tarpaulins on the path to a circular future together with FREITAG.
Read more here.