How Spring GDS makes logistics more sustainable

In a time when sustainability and efficiency are no longer optional but essential, Spring GDS is carving a new path in the logistics sector through an innovative approach: asset sharing. At DELIVER Europe Jeroen Leenders from Cross Border Magazine sat down with Rutger Vonk from Spring GDS, to dive into how this concept is being implemented and what it means for the future of the industry.

The Spring GDS Pallet Box

The logistics industry moves vast amounts of goods every day, often relying on dedicated resources like trucks, pallets, and packaging. However, Rutger Vonk highlights a simple but powerful inefficiency: many trucks run empty while others are overloaded. Spring GDS sees an opportunity to disrupt this pattern through asset sharing, essentially creating shared, reusable logistics infrastructure.

At the centre of their solution is the Spring GDS pallet box, also known as the PostNL box. Like many in the logistics sector, Spring GDS used to rely heavily on single-use wooden pallets and cardboard packaging for shipments across Europe. This was expensive, wasteful, and unsustainable. The answer? A circular, reusable pallet box designed for durability, lasting up to 10 years under normal logistics pressure and uniform in size to streamline transport.

This box isn’t just used by Spring GDS. Partners in their network can adopt the same packaging, avoiding the need to purchase their own resources for returns and undeliverables. It’s a win-win approach, reducing waste and costs across the board.

Why asset sharing needs collaboration

While asset sharing is not a new idea, it hasn’t taken off across the industry due to the complexities of coordination. “People know about it, but they don't actively engage with it because it's difficult,” Vonk explains. Building trust and cooperation beyond simple cost and quality metrics is essential and challenging. But Spring GDS took inspiration from the IPC, where postal organizations already used shared pallet boxes in a non-profit structure.

Spring GDS saw potential to take this a step further by involving their commercial partners and customers, moving beyond internal use and into the broader supply chain. “That was not allowed within this fixed pool, so that's how we stepped into using it in our own logistics,” Vonk says.

Cost savings meet sustainability

One of the strongest arguments for adopting asset sharing is the financial incentive. Vonk reports that Spring GDS alone has seen nearly one million euros in annual savings and that’s without counting the CO2 reduction. Because the boxes are long-lasting, the upfront investment pays off over time for every player in the supply chain.

The concept also encourages collaboration. “If you only do it in your own logistics surroundings, you miss out,” Vonk states. By sharing assets, partners not only reduce costs but also create a more integrated and resilient network.

Partners are on board

Perhaps surprisingly, getting partners on board hasn’t been a challenge. “We talked to around seven to eight different last-mile carriers... and they were all very willing,” Vonk shares. Partners quickly saw their own operational costs going down and appreciated the ergonomic and functional design of the boxes.

Spring GDS views this success as just the beginning. Vonk invites others in the industry to explore similar solutions: “This is just one solution. I'm sure we haven't found a lot of others as well. So this is also an invitation: people, please reach out, because this is where everybody can win.”

Dedicated to collaborative innovation

Spring GDS commitment to sustainability isn’t a side project, it’s baked into the company’s DNA. As Rutger Vonk explains, “Sustainability is core to who we are, one of our USPs. We dedicate a lot of time and energy to staff ideas and investments in this area. All our colleagues know this is one of our top priorities.”

While Spring GDS is leading the way with these innovations, Vonk acknowledges that real progress will require industry-wide collaboration. “Other companies are also making their own innovative moves. We watch what others are doing too. Because sustainability is not a solo mission. We won’t solve the big issues without collaboration. It’s a common field for all of us.”

In a sector that’s often known for tradition and efficiency over experimentation, Spring GDS is proving that logistics can be both smart and sustainable and that real innovation happens when companies work together.