Stolwijk, 8 May 2025 - Today, Cosun Beet Company and logistics provider Zijderlaan officially took their first electric truck into operation. In doing so, the companies are taking an important step together in making their transport more sustainable. This joint initiative contributes to lower CO2 emissions and offers valuable insights of electric transport in practice for the future.
PERFECTE ROUTE FOR ELECTRIC DRIVING
From today, the electric truck, a DAF XF Electric, will operate on the shuttle route between Cosun Beet Company's Specialty Factory Roosendaal and Zijderlaan's distribution center in Puttershoek. The route between the two locations covers 53 kilometers, making it perfect for the electric truck. Taking into account the load factor, the truck reaches a range of about 300 kilometers. This allows it to be used for all daily trips without recharging during the day.
OPTIMISATION OF THE LOGISTICS CHAIN
The shuttle transport between Roosendaal, where liquid sugars such as syrup are made, and Puttershoek, the location that includes Zijderlaan's warehouse with packaging materials and fully automated distribution center (DC), is an essential part of Cosun Beet Company's supply chain. Zijderlaan has been handling logistics at the DC, Dutch distribution and thus transport between the two sites for many years. The switch to electric transport reduces the environmental impact without affecting chain reliability.
Simone van Egmond, Manager Supply Chain, Cosun Beet Company: ‘Zijderlaan delivers the required packaging in Roosendaal every day and then drives back with the packed products to the distribution center in Puttershoek. This is a well-streamlined, efficient and now therefore sustainable process.’
SUSTAINABILITY AS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
Annually, the truck covers about 60,000 kilometers, saving an estimated 72 tonnes of CO2 per year. This was an important motivation for Cosun Beet Company and Zijderlaan, both of which attach great importance to sustainability and are actively committed to achieving the goals set out in the Climate Agreement, also with a view to the future. The companies see electrification of transport as a promising development and want this project to gain valuable practical experience for possible future upscaling.
COOPERATION IS THE BASIS OF SUCCESS
Cooperation plays a key role in this sustainable route: Cosun Beet Company facilitates the charging infrastructure, while Zijderlaan invests in the truck itself. Leo Lokker, Commercial Director of Zijderlaan: ‘To take steps towards sustainability within the logistics chain, cooperation is essential. We are proud to commit to this project with Cosun Beet Company, as one of our key customers, and look forward to the great results we will achieve together.’
Bram Fetter, COO of Cosun Beet Company, also emphasises the importance of cooperation: ‘Innovation plays a crucial role in our organisation. It enables us to achieve CO2 reductions, optimise processes and expand our porfolio. Through valuable collaborations like this, we increase our innovative strength and can achieve much more. In this case, that is in transport, but this is also how we work with growers and food producers on innovations in agriculture and plant-based nutrition. Together, we are working on a future-proof chain.’
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About Cosun Beet Company
Cosun Beet Company is part of Royal Cosun, a cooperative of about 8,000 sugar beet growers in the Netherlands. With about 850 employees, we are one of the most efficient sugar producers. Besides developing, producing and selling sugar and sugar specialities, components of the sugar beet are processed into products for food, animal feed and green energy, among others. Maximum use is made of the beet's various components. Corporate sustainability is woven into our strategy, for customers, growers and employees alike.
About Zijderlaan
Within the Benelux, Zijderlaan is a professional player in the transport and logistics services. They relieve their clients throughout the entire logistics chain. Within the transport sector they specialize in loose bulk, general cargo, container and bulk transport. Zijderlaan also provides storage, transshipment and various VAL activities from their warehouses in Stolwijk, Puttershoek and Dinteloord.
Family-business Zijderlaan has been Continuously in Motion for 88 years and has been managed by the third generation since 2022. Sustainability and innovation are key pillars within the organisation. In 2023, Zijderlaan achieved both the 2nd Lean & Green Star Award and the award for most innovative SME in the Top 100 Logistics Service Providers 2023.
