High costs generated by limited resources and fractured supply chains around the world—these are the issues that are weighing in particular on the minds of the logistics industry. At the same time, the industry is serving as a linchpin for climate goals and a trailblazer in the energy transition. In light of this role, more exhibitors and speakers will focus their appearances at the trade fair on sustainability compared with the last transport logistic held in 2019. The world’s leading trade fair for logistics, mobility, IT and supply chain management that will be held in Munich from May 9–12, 2023, will show how attitudes and business models are evolving. At the same time, the international industry gathering will produce an as small environmental footprint as possible.
Professor Dr. Dirk Engelhardt, the spokesman for the board of the BGL e.V. (German Association for Road Haulage, Logistics and Disposal), said: “Logistics currently has to cope with many major challenges. Resources are in shorter supply than ever before. This means that all those involved in the supply chain have to work together to find justifiable, practicable and reliable planning solutions. To this end, transport logistic brings everyone—from shippers to recipients and from logistics service providers to technology suppliers—together in Munich. This underlines the important significance of logistics and sends a clear signal on the way to a sustainable future.”
Conference program to reflect global challenges
The conference program of transport logistic will comprise 58 sessions, about 20 percent more presentations and podium discussions than were offered in 2019. The topics will focus on the challenges faced by the industry. Sustainability acts as the leitmotif of the entire program. The German Transport Forum (DVF) captures the essence of the trade fair with the title: “Synchronizing the global economy, fulfilling climate goals: How does the logistics industry deliver?” During the forum, leading politicians and representatives of the logistics industry will discuss how the energy transition will be able to succeed with the help of new drive systems, alternative fuels and new production chains.
No matter whether you are talking about infrastructure, supply chains, digitalization or skilled workers—many topics included in the conference program will contribute with expert knowledge either directly or indirectly to increasingly sustainable practices related to the environment and people. The presentations will extend from the meta level of geopolitical developments to practical, everyday business operations. The four forums set up in the halls will focus on innovative technologies and resource-conserving concepts. The program will include such topics as decarbonization of modes of transport, wide-scale e-mobility in logistics, efficient supply chains in combined transports and for the last mile in city centers or uniform standards for real estate and data.
“Logistics is fueling sustainability,” says Dr. Florian Eck, the Managing Director of the German Transport Forum, in highlighting the sustainable role of the trade fair. “It is bundling flows of goods, investing in new technologies and leveraging valuable data along the entire supply chain across all modes of transport. transport logistic will highlight the issues that are moving the industry. In terms of our climate goals and the necessary energy transition, the international trade fair that touches on all modes of transport is more important than ever before in its role as a showcase and innovation hub.”
The motto is GoGreen
The trade fair is increasingly focusing on sustainability. There will be no transport logistic catalog for the first time since 1978. Only a visitor’s guide will be provided as a way of reducing overall use of paper. The trade fair will also forgo the use of 25,000 square meters of carpeting on hallways. The trade fair team will prioritize the use of sustainable materials in the construction of all forums and special areas. The amount of waste materials should be reduced by systematically collecting and recycling all materials used during setup and dismantling of the trade fair. Exhibitors can also take advantage of a GoGreen CO₂ audit of Messe München to determine and offset their carbon footprint. The trade-fair construction company meplan will also offer a carbon-neutral system booth made of sustainable materials for the first time. A total of 110 charging stations at the fairgrounds will support electric mobility and facilitate climate friendly travel to the event. Messe München has also been using only green power since 2020. As a result of the complete switch, it achieves annual savings of around 6,400 tons of carbon emissions in normal operation. Trade-fair visitors can do their part as well: As an alternative to normal admission tickets, the GoGreen ticket will offset the average environmental footprint by donating €5 for climate-protection projects.