Shipping constitutes a huge portion of emissions in our business. Both local transport as well as international ones can be managed with more attention by attentively looking into groupage possibilities and working with companies which are sensible to the problematic.
Particularly the international shipping of artworks is an area with huge potential for carbon reductions. Moving a piece of art by ocean rather than air can reduce its impact on the climate by around 95% (see case study by Thomas Dane).
Effective Actions that GCC recommends for transports:
- Prioritise consolidated road and sea freight, over air, for local and international shipments.
- Ask for a carbon emission value accompanying your estimate if possible (members can always use the GCC Carbon Calculator).
- Superior service should be predicated on environmental considerations rather than speed of delivery – a service galleries can also recommend to clients.
- Collaborate with other galleries to coordinate and consolidate shipping wherever possible. HERE you have the chance to look for or inform others about upcoming transports.
- Request hybrid or electric transport wherever possible.
- Plan shipping schedules as far in advance as possible and involve artists and clients in the process so they are aware of the deadlines and shipping times.
- Communicate and analyse with your shippers and transport agents what is the most effective transport option (how to consolidate, share crates or containers etc.)
- Communicate and share green options with your closer shippers and transport agents and work on local changes together.
- Work on establishing a good workflow with your closer shippers about how quotes and alternatives can be shared also with artists and clients.
- Discuss and verify different methods of packing and crating that could reduce either the volume of the transport and/or reduce waste after the delivery (see MATERIALS section on this page).
- Use Zero Emissions vehicles, or bikes, for local courier and short transport journeys.
- Check couriers have a green tariff.
- Keep a clear record of all shipments sent and received and ask shipping companies to keep their own thorough records, in line with the carbon calculator requirements; this will save time in future audits.
- We don’t recommend offsetting. It is not the correct resource to reduce CO2. The reduction has to come by a gradual and effective structural practice.
Aspects Regarding Insurance:
- Verify that every transport option that helps to reduce CO2 is covered by your insurance company and is safe for the kind of artwork you transport.
- Start a conversation with your insurance company about covering sea freight and consolidated road and sea freight for local and international shipments.
- Connect with the GCC transport group if you need support and/or would like to verify alternatives by other brokers.
In the meantime, please use this page to share your transport necessities and possibly combine with similar ones!
Link to Berlin exchange platform
Your experience in any alternative transport conditions and ways of sharing crates, containers and routes would be an inspiration for all of us and help us to learn what the options are out there and where the coalition as a group could be supportive to make a change.
