Carousel Logistics is not just expanding its footprint — it is doing so with a deliberate, sustainability-led focus.

The recent opening of a new airside cargo handling facility at Birmingham Airport marks a pivotal moment for the freight forwarding firm, one that seamlessly blends strategic ambition with environmental responsibility.

“Our ambitious five-year strategic plan, set in 2022, anticipates Carousel Logistics doubling in size, and we are on track to outperform this,” Andrew Lowery, UK managing director of Carousel Logistics, said. “But we are also looking to grow sustainably as part of our 2035 mission to cut carbon emissions by 40 percent.”

This forward-looking agenda has shaped every element of the new Birmingham operation — from its location and layout to the technology and equipment deployed on site. Carousel has invested heavily in low- and zero-emission handling systems, reflecting its determination to decouple growth from carbon output.

“This has driven our decisions to invest in lower- and zero-emission equipment at Birmingham Airport and partner with electric rail freight partner Varamis Rail,” he added.

Crucially, the facility is not just a standalone achievement — it is a strategic cog in a larger network, enhancing Carousel’s ability to meet tight customer deadlines without compromising on sustainability. The Birmingham location acts as a crucial interchange between time-critical airfreight and zero-emission ground transport links, allowing Carousel to deliver faster while emitting less.

“I am proud of my team who have proven that reducing our environmental footprint need not come at the expense of service excellence,” Lowery stated.

Cleaner, faster model

A feature of Carousel’s sustainability strategy is its partnership with Varamis Rail, a move that underscores the company’s dedication to reshaping the logistics landscape. This shift to electric rail freight has unlocked significant gains not just in carbon reduction, but also in efficiency and scalability — critical factors in a dynamic airfreight sector.

“Carousel’s move towards rail freight has required more effort, investment, and time to get started than traditional road routes, but the positive impact both in terms of reducing carbon emissions and delivery times for our customers is considerable,” Lowery laid out.

The Birmingham to Glasgow rail route, powered by electricity, is already outperforming traditional heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on key metrics. It delivers not only a speed advantage — cutting up to three hours off the typical road journey — but also a substantial carbon savings benefit.

“With each carriage equivalent to one and a half HGV trailers, we can move more cargo at greater speed as well,” Lowery explained. “Each train carriage used on this route removes 375 tonnes of CO2 each year compared to the road freight alternative.”

Carousel is leveraging this advantage across a growing volume of its operations.

“On 80 of the 239 daily services in 2024, two carriages were used by Carousel Logistics, meaning 500 tonnes of CO2 were saved,” Lowery revealed.

This success is pushing the company to think bigger. With demand for rapid and reliable logistics services rising in sectors such as life sciences, agriculture, and critical parts distribution, Carousel is planning to expand its collaboration with Varamis Rail.

“We fully intend to expand the partnership with Varamis Rail and hope to work with them adding more routes to their network,” he confirmed.

Precision overnight

In a 24/7 economy, the ability to deliver during non-peak hours is becoming a critical differentiator. Carousel Logistics has carved out a niche in in-night logistics, offering precision delivery services that not only boost productivity but also align with environmental and congestion-reduction goals.

“Demand has continued to increase for in-night services from an increasing number of sectors as more realise the productivity gains and lower environmental impact,” Lowery highlighted.

This rise in demand is not without its challenges. Unlike traditional deliveries, in-night logistics deals with critical spare parts and high-value consignments, where a missed delivery can have exponential knock-on effects.

“The cost of failure for in-night deliveries of critical spare parts is much higher than other logistics operations,” he cautioned.

To meet this bar, Carousel is investing in new track and trace technologies, enhancing real-time visibility across its network and ensuring that delivery times are further reduced without compromising accuracy.

“We are committed to continually improving our OTIF [on-time, in-full] performance across our growing client base and are investing in new track and trace technology to accurately report progress and further cut delivery times,” Lowery stated.