Issuu

WINTER 2023

EVZONE

the magazine for all of our colleagues

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT SURVEY

What a result!

THREE CHEERS Triple contract joy

CHINA CHANGES

Expanding operations

TOP GEAR

Driver of the year awards

Key dates

EVENTS CALENDAR

DECEMBER Christmas Eve

December 24

Christmas Day

December 25

Boxing Day

December 26

New Year’s Eve

December 31

New Year’s Day

January 1

World Braille Day

January 4

World Religion Day

January 20

JANUARY Burns Night

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CON January 21

HEATH ZARIN

IN IT TO WIN IT

IN THE FAST LANE

EV Cargo’s Founder and CEO

Three contract successes

Improvements to Germany lane

HEATH ZARIN

Delivering great things

s the holiday season approaches, it is time to reflect upon and celebrate our collective achievements throughout 2023. It has been a year where we have all worked together as one global team to grow our business and where so many of you have gone the extra mile to deliver a service to our customers that we can all be proud of. 2023 has also seen EV Cargo expand its operational footprint and capability, especially across China, Asia and Europe, with new offices, warehouses and new colleagues joining the business. Every edition of EV Zone fills me with pride – we are a business that looks after each other and, as our contining sustainability successes show, do our best to reduce our environmental impact. This edition is no different: from business contract wins, improvements to our European offering and our first Driver of the Year awards, to helping feed hungry families and making efforts to boost equality, we are doing great things on both a business and individual level. I am thrilled to share the results of this year’s Employee Engagement Survey. Your dedication and commitment to our shared goals have once again shone through, reflected in the impressive increase in our engagement score.

only achieving our professional milestones but also fostering a workplace culture that values collaboration, innovation and mutual support. Your feedback is instrumental in shaping our future and these survey results provide valuable insights into areas of success and areas where we can continue to improve. During this festive season, it is imporant that we appreciate the collective efforts that have brought us to this point. All your hard work, dedication, and resilience have made 2023 a year of triumphs. I want to express my gratitude to each and every one of you. May your festive season be filled with joy, warmth and the company of loved ones. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

NTENTS HEATH ZARIN Founder, CEO & Chairman

EV Cargo

It is inspirational to see that as a team, we are not

WONDER WOMEN

HAVING YOUR SAY

FLYING START

RIDING HIGH

SOUL FOOD

TEAM REWARDS

Female equality rating boost

Runners at the airport

Supporting foodbanks

Employee Survey results

Driver of the Year awards

More great offers

EV CARGO UPDATES

Andy Humpherson

TRIPLE

CROWN Three contract wins for EV Cargo

e have recently won a contract to work with AllPond Solutions, a specialist online retail store that provides Aquarium and Pond equipment to its customers. We will now handle the importation and receipt of freight from their global manufacturing locations, store goods at our Ashby hub and handle the final distribution, ensuring a full end-to-end solution. Alongside of coming out on top of a competitive tender process, we

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were excited to learn that we won the contract with Versuni, home to some of the world’s most-renowned domestic appliance brands, and will provide warehousing, eCommerce fulfilment and road distribution. Imported sea freight will be palletised, stored and distributed to retailers, with eCommerce and B2C order fulfilment also undertaken by us. Our unrivalled expertise in drinks logistics also played a key role in securing the warehousing and distribution of Pernod products. We will transport products from manufacturing locations, provide bonded warehousing at Ashby, manage order

and case picking and handle the onward distribution. Andy Humpherson, EV Cargo Solutions CEO, said: “Since the pandemic, we’ve been transitioning to a more asset-light and technology-enabled operating model where our owned fleet is supported by EV Cargo’s extensive 4PL platform and the Palletforce express network, all connected by our worldclass control tower system. “That has allowed us to become more agile and efficient which in turn has helped secure these new contract wins. “Our state-of-the-art contract logistics hub in Ashby, with its BRC accreditation and bonded facilities, is at the heart of our UK domestic network and ensures we can provide the best possible service to customers, with the flexibility to respond to market conditions, supported by our tier 1 WMS system Blue Yonder. “Managed seamlessly on a global level by EV Cargo people, technology and systems, we offer a quality concept-toconsumer service encompassing global freight transportation, order fulfilment, eCommerce and last-mile B2B and B2C distribution.”

EV CARGO UPDATES

KENYA’S CALLING

n October, Ana Maria Vasile, Branch Manager from our Barcelona office, attended the Africa Logistics Network annual meeting in Kenya. Ana spent three days in one-to-one meetings with other ALN members, developing new opportunities throughout Africa and around the world. During her free time, Ana volunteered at the local orphanage and delivered a range of clothes, books and toys donated by our generous team members in Barcelona.

I.T. AUDIT A BIG PLUS

ur Palletforce business has retained its Cyber Essentials Plus certification after continuing to boost its measures to prevent cyber-attacks. They have been focusing on its cyber security, safeguarding data so that both members and customers can be reassured it is well defended against attacks and scams. With organisations

continuing to face significant and increasingly complex cyber security threats, maintaining internet defences is a crucial part of any company’s IT strategy, which includes additional tools, training and testing. Gaining the Cyber Essentials Plus involved a hands-on technical audit of our Palletforce systems by an experienced cyber security assessor. IT director Kate Lovatt said the

Government-approved Cyber Essential Plus certification was a significant achievement for the IT team. Kate added: “We have put a lot of work into gaining and then maintaining this qualification. “It is quite a complex process and has involved a

lot of hard work, so it is great news that this has been recognised again. “This is something a lot of businesses look for before they consider working with you. “People want the peace of mind of knowing you are secure and you take these issues very seriously.”

EV CARGO UPDATES

Dave Holland with overall winner Matthew Winfield

IN FULL SWING

e hosted our 2023 Palletforce UK Golf Tournament at The Belfry Golf Resort, surrounded by our members. We had a fantastic day and thoroughly enjoyed the challenging golf course the Brabazon is.

Congratulations go out to all of the winners. A total of 71 players took part, with the team from Kinaxia Logistics coming out on top, while Matthew Winfield, of Willmotts Transport, claimed first place. Here are a few images from the day...

Dave Holland, EVP Marketing & Communications, second right, with the Kinaxia Logistics team

NETT GAINS

Improvements to Palletforce’s German trade lane via Nettetal

e have refreshed our Palletforce trade lane for palletised freight deliveries to Germany, further enhancing service excellence for our members and their customers. We are excited to now be able to deliver goods by EV Cargo via an internal solution which secures the best possible service for all members by leveraging our expertise in European, cross-border freight forwarding. To ensure ease of use for members, all customs processes are managed in-house by EV Cargo, and international

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freight can be delivered by normal linehaul vehicles visiting the Palletforce central SuperHub with domestic freight. Departures from the UK are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with overnight line-haul arriving into EV Cargo’s state-of-the-art Nettetal logistics centre on the NetherlandsGermany border the following morning. From our Nettetal hub, the final leg distribution across Germany is taken care of by our proficient local teams in Germany. Lee Matthews, Palletforce General Manager European Services, said: “This new trade lane service will ensure shipping palletised

freight to and from Germany is easy and efficient for our members and their customers. “An in-house, internal solution guarantees services in the long term and provides members with a sectorleading offering. EV Cargo’s expertise in cross-border deliveries and the investment that has been made in the Nettetal logistics centre will guarantee a stress-free, high-quality service for all members.” Lee Matthews

EV CARGO UPDATES

EASTERN

PROMISE

Chief Operating Officer’s delight at visit to China operations

hief Operating Officer Paul Coutts visited our new CFS and branch operations in China. Across our sites in Shanghai, Shenzen, Ningbo and Qingdao we have consistently and successfully onboarded more and more business through our new infrastructure. Paul said: “Having spent over 35 years in the supply chain and logistics

industry, the expansion of our CFS and branch operations in China is a great example of what can be achieved through agile execution when you have an energised, experienced and diverse team coming together to make it happen. “We should also recognise the commitment and support from others within our global network, including our own offices and partners in key markets.

“This ‘hands-across-the-water’ collaboration was essential in that agile execution. I believe the secret to our success is the clear and unshakable commitment to our top priority ensuring our customers’ supply chains remain reliable and resilient. “If we keep the customer firmly at the front of everything we do, everything else will take care of itself. “Many thanks to all involved onwards and upwards!”

WE’RE ALL WALKING ON AIR

e are incredibly proud to announce that the EV Cargo team in Singapore has once again been acknowledged as one of the top cargo agents

by Singapore Airlines. We recently attended the Singapore Airlines Top Agent Award Dinner to receive our award. A great night was had by all.

EV CARGO UPDATES

Next of kin details In our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our employees, we kindly request your assistance in reviewing and updating your next of kin details in EV People or your local HR information system. Maintaining accurate and up-to-date next of kin information is essential in case of any emergencies or unforeseen situations. Having the correct contact information helps us to quickly reach out to your designated next of kin when necessary. To verify and update your next of kin details within EV People, please follow these simple steps: 1. Visit EV People. 2. Navigate to the Profile section. 3. Locate the Emergency Contact subsection. 4. Review and update the contact details, including the name, phone number, and email address of your next of kin. 5. Save your changes to ensure the information is updated in our records. If you haven’t provided next of kin details previously, please take a moment to enter this information. We kindly request that all employees complete this verification process as soon as possible. Your prompt attention to this matter will greatly assist us in maintaining the safety and wellbeing of everyone at EV Cargo.

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NATURAL HIGH

& MAXIMUM JOY

e are sending huge congratulations to Nat Wilson, Health and Safety Manager, for passing her NEBOSH L6 National Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals. The course involved indepth self-study across a broad range of topics, followed by three open-book exams covering workplace Health and Safety principals, along with a research project into benchmarking critical success factors within Health and Safety. The course involved 450 hours of self-study, plus 120 hours of exams mostly carried out in Nat’s personal time over weekends and evenings. Nat said: “The Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals is the flagship NEBOSH qualification for senior H&S professional, so achieving this level of qualification has been a

Max Cassily, with Andrew Mawson, Head of Compliance & Risk

definite career highlight and something I am immensely proud of. “It’s certainly challenging but well worth the rewards for anyone considering their next steps within the Health & Safety profession.” Max Cassily, Head of Logistics, recently completed his IOSH Managing Safely course.

Max said: “It was a great course and one I hope every Team Leader upwards across the entire warehouse network will complete. “It’s so important the we put safety at the forefront of all that we do, and I’m hoping that all of our leaders will feel empowered to do so after attending.”

Training chance for managers

V Cargo offers a IOSH Managing Safely L2 qualification, a three-day in-house qualification providing the knowledge and tools to manage sites safely. The course covers responsibilities for managing H&S at work, how to assess and control

risks, accident investigations, H&S legislation and how to identify and understand hazards. We encourage all managers who have responsibility for dayto-day site health and safety (including offices), supervisors within

warehouse operational roles, and those who take on health and safety roles or responsibilities to complete the course. Those interested in completing the qualification can either speak with their line manager or contact Nat Wilson at nat.wilson@evcargo.com.

EV CARGO UPDATES

SCIENCE

EV Cargo won the Sustainable Transport Award at the prestigious 2023 Motor Transport Awards

APPLIANCE OF

e are proud to announce that we have become the first UK logistics company to have an ambitious near-term target in line with the Paris Agreement, and long-term commitment to net-zero approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The SBTi has approved our near and long-term science-

based emissions reduction targets and has determined that they are in line with a 1.5°C trajectory. Virginia Alzina, our Chief Sustainability Officer, said: “I am thrilled to announce that EV Cargo has become the first logistics company in the UK to have its decarbonisation targets validated by the SBTi. This is a significant achievement and milestone in our journey

to net-zero. “Our near-term and net-zero science-based sustainability targets have officially been approved by SBTi and this approval is not just a testament to our hard work and dedication but also a firm commitment to our environmental responsibility in these critical times, described by the UN as a code red for humanity. “In response to this

SIMON SAYS HELLO

ur Chief Strategy Officer Simon Pearson visited some of our UK sites on his recent trip to the UK. He went to Erith in Kent to meet the team and see first-hand the tremendous

job they do every day for our many customers and members. Simon also paid a visit to our new site in St Leonards in East Sussex to meet the team and welcome them to the Palletforce and EV Cargo

family. The St Leonards operation became part of EV Cargo at the end of 2022 when we completed the acquisition of leading local road freight and contract logistics operator Dobbs Logistics.

urgent call, EV Cargo has committed to reducing its direct emissions and achieving net-zero before 2050 – all aligned to SBTi mitigation pathways. These commitments have been validated and approved by the SBTi, making us a part of a select group of logistics companies worldwide that are aligning their business strategies with the latest climate science.”

Protecting your data Please read and familiarise yourself with your responsibilities under our data protection policy. If you have any questions contact Laura Davis at dataprotection@evcargo. com. The purpose of the policy is to communicate the requirements and arrangements to all staff on the handling of personal data. It outlines EV Cargo’s approach to data protection providing a structure for managing personal data.

EV CARGO UPDATES

FEMALE

EMPOWERMENT Figures show how we are advancing gender equality rating

e are thrilled to share that we have improved our Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Gap Analysis Tool score for the third consecutive year, achieving a score of 73%. WEPs are a set of principles that offer guidance to businesses on how to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. They are also used by the UN Global Compact to help companies identify strengths, gaps and opportunities to

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improve their performance on gender equality, which is a key Sustainable Development Goal. The key areas of improvement this year were:  Our ability to track, measure and assess our overall ratio of men and women at EV Cargo and how we can support and enhance this moving forward.  Our improved approach to how we support colleagues prior to, during and upon return from various types of leave, as well as various wellbeing initiatives. It is great to see how our business is continuing to move forward and it

is something that we are really proud of. We believe that diversity and gender equality are essential for EV Cargo’s success and are committed to continuously improve in this area, with agreed actions in place over the next year to support with this. Together, we are not just moving cargo, we are paving the way for a brighter future for women in the logistics industry. As we move forward, we will continue to build on this momentum and we remain dedicated to setting higher standards for gender equality, diversity, and inclusion within EV Cargo.

EV CARGO UPDATES

WE COULD BE

HEROES

ur EV Cargo Southeast Asia region recently launched the EV Cargo Heroes Award initiative to recognize colleagues on a quarterly basis for their outstanding

achievements. Each quarter, colleagues have the opportunity to nominate their peers for accomplishments in one of the following categories: Making growth the core of what we do; making

innovation the core of what we do; making sustainability the core of what we do; community spirit; and bright sparks, bringing your bright ideas to life . Congratulations to Lwin Mar Aung, Inside Sales Executive (Myanmar), on receiving the EV Cargo Hero Award for Q3 2023 in the ‘Making Growth the Core of What We Do’ category. Mar Aung earned the award this quarter due to her dedicated and hardworking nature. Having

started just over a year ago, she demonstrates genuine care and commitment in delivering quality services. Mar Aung consistently maintains a positive and upbeat attitude, willingly taking on duties outside of her usual responsibilities to support our business. Recently, she was asked to assist in customer service to handle the increased volume. Mar Aung has excelled in transforming from her administrative support role to a customer-facing service role. She made this transition permanent in August and has taken the time to understand customers’ needs and preferences and tailored products and services to meet those needs. Mar Aung provides exceptional customer service, driving customer loyalty and contributing to the Myanmar tea division’s best financial result in Q3 2023. She is a great team player who exemplifies the ethos of ‘making growth the core of

DUNCAN TAKES A TECH TALK

n September the Tech UK Team attended an EV Cargo tech update event in Gerrards Cross, hosted by CEO Technology, Duncan Grewcock. The event was very well attended and a great opportunity for some our more remote colleagues to catch up with the wider team. It also provided Duncan, who is Hong Kong based, the opportunity to meet up face-to-face with some of the newer members of the team. The agenda for the day

included a business update from Duncan, 2023 team achievements, a Delivering Better Together presentation and presentation on the Wellbeing Hub, including information on EAP and mental health first aiders. The final part of the day was the presentation of the Annual Employee Awards. Thanks to all those who submitted their votes in the various categories and many congratulations go to all nominees and ultimate award winners.

PEOPLE & COMMUNITIES

PEOPLE &

COMMUNITIES

Highlighting the inspiring things colleagues are doing to help improve their local areas and the lives of others.

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PEOPLE & COMMUNITIES

OUR GLOBAL TEAM

WE’RE ON THE

RUN-WAY Team’s flying start at airport run

ur team in Liege recently took part in the first Liege Airport Run. There were two distance options to choose from, with

some members of the EV Cargo team running the 5k and the others opting for the 10k. Congratulations to all of the runners.

WELCOMING THE RICE

ur Dubai team celebrated Onam, an annual Rice Harvest

festival. The celebration takes place at the end of the monsoon season, which welcomes the harvest season as part of Indian Hindu culture.

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PEOPLE & COMMUNITIES

THOUGHTFUL FOOD

his year, EV Cargo is participating in a Christmas Food Drive, aiming to contribute to the fight against hunger this holiday season. Our focus is on providing Christmas treats for children during the festive period, along with other essential items required in our local communities. With the support of our Delivering

Better Champions, we have already donated over 245 items, including general food items such as cereal, soup, pasta and tinned food, as well as Christmas treats, advent calendars, winter socks, and presents. If you would like to join us in this effort, please reach out to your local Delivering Better Champion or email us at communications@ evcargo.com.

Our home bakers raised money for cancer support

TACHEMASTER

en Gregory took part in Movember and raised money by growing his moustache in November. Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research and transforming the way health services reach and support men.

Ben Gregory during Movember

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

embers of the EV Cargo team in Rotterdam took part in the annual Harbour Run Rotterdam, a 10km course with a range of obstacles. We had two teams taking part, with team one finishing in 1hr 35 minutes and team two finishing in

Star-bucks: Cash from coffees We’ve raised over £600 for Macmillan Cancer Support through Macmillan coffee mornings this year. The coffee mornings involved lots of sweet treats such as homemade cakes, biscuits, doughnuts and traybakes. Thank you to everyone who attended the coffee mornings and donated to help such a fantastic charity. From being an information source to cancer patients and their families, to treatment care and post-treatment, Macmillan Cancer Support is there at every step of the recovery process. We’re delighted to be able to support this incredible organisation.

Our Rotterdam runners

1hr 55 minutes. Congratulations to

everyone who took part. Go team EV Cargo!

ENGAGEMENT

EMPLOYEE

ENGAGEMENT To foster a meaningful work experience, we believe it is important that everyone has knowledge of our direction and priorities and understands how their efforts and successes contribute to overall goals. We also seek to foster a culture of respect and transparency, practice a management style that listens to colleagues and empowers them to take on new challenges.

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ENGAGEMENT

& DELIVERING

BETTER

Our Delivering Better programme is based on the guiding principles of teamwork, respect, honesty, quality, agility, pride and efficiency. We invest in our people to support a sustainable future of growth and success.

EMPLOYEE SURVEY

WHAT’S THE Results of our EV Cargo 2023 Employee Engagement survey

ENGAGEMENT

74% 3%

PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED IN WHAT WE ARE DOING

Performance COMPLETION

+ CAREER RATE

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95% 92%

GLOBAL FINANCE

20%

TECHNOLOGY

40%

61%

50% 40% 38%

33%

DOBBS

73%

60%

UKFM

79%

GLOBAL FOWARDING

80%

DOWNTON

99%

PALLETFORCE

100%

CENTRAL FUNCTIONS

Career development impacts employee engagement and employee retention

BY BUSINESS...

GLOBAL IT

74% 3%

50% 2% SOLUTIONS

development

SURVEY

SCORE? WELLBEING

74% 3%

Wellbeing helps prevent stress and create a more positive working environment for all

Leadership

Good communication makes you more productive

ensures that you have the information you need to do your job well

72% 7%

COMMUNICATION BUSINESS PLANS & SUSTAINABILITY

75% 78% 2% 1% BUSINESS 69%

Leadership remains the survey category with the highest engagement score. Team members respect their manager and have a positive relationship with them.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the survey. We will now analyse the results overall, and by Business Unit or function and create action plans to overcome some of the challenges outlined. If you wish to be involved, speak to your line manager or Delivering Better champion.

A sustainable work environment energises employees & enhances job satisfaction

Business is the category with the lowest engagement score, unchanged from 2022. We need to ensure all colleagues understand how they can contribute to delivering our vision.

DRIVER OF YEAR AWARDS

DRIVERS KEEP EVERYTHING

ON TRACK

Racetrack day out for our first UK Driver of the Year winners

eptember saw our first UK EV Cargo Driver of the Year Awards. The top 10 EV Cargo drivers in the UK, using Microlise, celebrated with a day of driving at Mallory Park racetrack and a celebration

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evening with a three-course meal, awards ceremony and entertainment. Congratulations to all our finalists from the event and especially our official driver of the year, Vasile Groza from Amesbury, who scooped the first prize. During the awards, we held a raffle to

raise money for Globe Truckers U.K., a charity run by drivers to help injured and disabled HGV and other professional drivers. We were really pleased that our team raised £570. Thank you to everyone that took part in the fundraising for such a worthy cause.

DRIVER OF YEAR / NEWS

Our Dubai runners

226,000 on fun run Several members of our Dubai team have taken part in the Dubai run and joined 226,000 participants to set a new record for the number of individuals taking part in the event. The Dubai Run creates a vibrant wave of neon orange on the 5km and 10km routes throughout the city, which is renowned as a global hub for logistics, transportation and green technology. Congratulations to all who took part.

Now we are five In November we marked a significant milestone in our history – our fifth anniversary. We’ve had an incredible five years, expanding across the globe and we want to express our deepest gratitude to our people, you have all played a key role in our journey. Scan the QR code to view our EV Cargo birthday video.

EMPLOYEE REWARDS

THIS JOB IS EVEN MORE

REWARDING

n the August addition of EV Zone we said to watch this space for expanding our wellbeing benefits across our global network, and we are thrilled to announce we have done just that! Our Wellbeing Centre and Employee Assistance Programme has now been extended across our 12 operating countries in Asia, expanding guidance, resources, tools and 121 support when it’s needed. We are working as we speak on expanding the Wellbeing Centre further across our Europe network, and it will be live shortly! Easy to access through My Rewards, take a look today for inspiration on how to manage and boost your financial plans, motive fitness goals and inspirational healthy living tips available in the Wellbeing Centre. With the holiday season well upon us,

it is typically the time for celebration, spending time with loved ones, enjoying Christmas treats and taking part in holiday-events. However, for some it may not be a season of celebration and it can

bring mixed feelings for many. Trained support teams are available through our Employee Assistance Programmes, easily accessible through My Rewards, for the go-to advice on financial, family, legal and health matters.

GO TO MYREWARDS-EV.COM

EXTRA FESTIVE FAVOURITES

on’t forget, we are able to offer access to hundreds of discounts for UK-based colleagues at some of the most recognised high street retailers – take advantage, get cashback and money off to help your finances go further this festive season! So if you want some first-class deals, then simply log-in at myrewardsev.com and start making those savings today. If you have suggestions on how we can improve our benefits and wellbeing offering, please share them with evpeople@evcargo.com. We would love to hear what you think! Need help accessing? Contact evpeople@evcargo. com or your local HR representative.

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WELLBEING

JUMPERS

JOY

FOR

Colleagues around the world get in the Christmas spirit

n 7 December EV Cargo come together to make this Christmas Jumper Day the most festive and impactful one yet. Colleagues from across the globe came together to wear their jumpers with pride, share joy with others and contribute to a cause that embodies the true spirit of this season – giving.

CHRISTMAS KINDNESS If you’ve got a story for our next edition, get in touch today at marketing@evcargo.com

THINK BEFORE YOU PRINT

Last year EV Cargo’s UK offices printed the equivalent of 567 trees of paper. With sustainability as one of our core values, always consider whether you really need to print something before doing so. Together we can reduce paper use, save trees and help EV Cargo meet its sustainability targets.

SAVING TREES BY SAVING PAPER