COVER FEATURE
While the environment challenged every aspect of our business – from distribution costs to customer demand patterns – what is most evident is not only our ability to weather these conditions, but to adapt and strengthen through them. We’ ve deepened collaboration across our network, improved service consistency despite external constraints, and advanced critical elements of our long-term strategy, particularly around sustainability, digital enablement, and customer value creation.
Our teams have demonstrated remarkable agility, ensuring continuity of service to our customers while maintaining a strong safety culture and operational discipline. We also continued to invest in our people, growing capability, promoting engagement, and strengthening our leadership pipeline for the future.
So, while success is measured in results, resilience has been the defining hallmark of 2025. It’ s the strength that allows us to deliver today while building the foundation for the growth and innovation that will define tomorrow.
WITH THE LAUNCH OF FULLY ELECTRIC, BUMPER-TO-BUMPER NET-ZERO TRUCKS, HOW IS VECTOR ADVANCING ITS ESG GOALS AND DECARBONISATION ROADMAP?
For us, this isn’ t a pilot for visibility. It is a strategic step forward in our decarbonisation roadmap and a concrete demonstration of how we intend to future-proof our operations. Firstly, the adoption of electric vehicles directly advances our Scope 1 emissions reduction targets. Transport is our largest emissions contributor, and transitioning part of our fleet to clean propulsion delivers immediate carbon-avoidance benefits. It also gives us critical operational insights into range, charging cycles, route suitability, and total cost of ownership, insights we will use to scale responsibly and effectively.
Secondly, pairing electric propulsion with netzero refrigeration technology ensures the trucks are truly zero-emission end-to-end. In a multitemperature environment, this is groundbreaking. It strengthens product integrity while reducing diesel dependency and noise levels in urban delivery zones.
Third, this move strengthens the“ S” in ESG. Our drivers benefit from quieter cabins, reduced vibration, and a safer, more modern operating environment. Our communities benefit from lower air pollution and reduced noise. And our customers gain a greener supply chain, something increasingly demanded by consumers and global brands alike.
BEYOND THE FLEET, HOW IS SUSTAINABILITY BEING EMBEDDED ACROSS OPERATIONS, FACILITIES, AND WORKFORCE TRAINING?
While our electric fleet draws attention, sustainability shapes how we operate, design facilities, and develop our people. Across operations, we systematically reduce waste, energy use, and environmental impact. Smarter temperature-control systems, improved insulation, and energy-efficient racking optimise our cold-chain infrastructure, while intensified waste segregation and food recovery, in partnership with SA Harvest, reduce landfill reliance and amplify social impact.
Our facilities strategy embeds sustainability at its core. Solar installations, LED upgrades, waterefficiency projects, and energy-monitoring tools lower emissions, cut costs, and boost network resilience. Every new or refurbished site is now designed with sustainability upfront, not as an afterthought.
Equally important, we are embedding sustainability into our people and capability development. From driver training on fuelefficient and electric operations to warehouse and leadership programmes, our workforce is becoming actively engaged in energy-conscious, waste-aware, and ESG-informed practices.
WHICH PARTNERSHIPS OR COLLABORATIONS HAVE BEEN MOST VALUABLE IN STRENGTHENING THE COMPANY’ S MARKET AND SUSTAINABILITY POSITION?
Our relationships with principals and customers remain foundational. Co-designing solutions – from multi-temperature network planning to end-to-end visibility – has deepened insights, driven joint innovation, and reinforced Vector as an indispensable partner in their value chains. Our sustainability partnerships, notably with SA Harvest, amplify food recovery, reduce waste, and address hunger, forming a cornerstone of our social and environmental impact. Collaborations with technology and energy providers around
December 2025 / INBOUND SA 7