ZAN: the high-density storage solution for logistics warehouses

Warehouses are navigating between exponential growth and the constraints of the ‘Net Zero Artificialisation’ (NZA) framework established by France’s Climate and Resilience Act, which limits land expansion. What challenges does this law present, and what lies ahead for logistics real estate? Let’s delve into the issues and explore potential solutions.

The Climate and Resilience Act defines artificialisation as “the lasting alteration of all or part of a soil‘s ecological functions, including its biological, hydric, and climatic properties, as well as its agricultural potential, through occupation or use.”

The law outlines two key milestones for the years ahead:

• 2021–2031: halve the consumption of natural land compared to the 2011–2021 period. This includes the creation of urbanised areas, impacting logistics properties regardless of their urban or suburban location.
• 2051: Achieve ‘net zero artificialisation,’ which does not prohibit new construction but requires compensation by rewilding an equivalent area.

Simultaneously, the logistics property sector faces mounting pressure due to limited availability. By 2023, vacancy rates for warehouses fell below 4%, signalling a critical shortage. The conclusion is clear: the demand for logistics spaces is rising, but expanding warehouse footprints is increasingly challenging.

How are other European nations addressing land-use restrictions? The European Union’s soil strategy aims for ‘zero net land take’ by 2050, leaving member states to implement measures individually.

France has adopted some of the most ambitious actions, but here’s how others compare:

• Germany and Italy have set national targets for 2030. Germany aims to limit artificial land use to 30 hectares per day, while Italy strives for zero net artificial land cover. Implementation in both countries relies on regional authorities, with northern German regions like Baden-Württemberg leading the way through eco-point compensation systems introduced in the 1990s.
• Switzerland requires cantons to obtain federal approval for development projects, ensuring compensation for new construction.
• Spain, however, has not established any specific targets.

Spotlight: Spatial Planning in the Netherlands

Les Pays-Bas, en tant que 2^e pays d’Europe avec le plus fort taux d’artificialisation, ont précisé qu’un objectif de zéro artificialisation n’était pas réalisable à leur échelle. Cependant, le pays a mis en place d’autres mesures intéressantes. Sa vision environnementale et l’approche à adopter en termes d’urbanisation sont par exemple présentées dans la NOVI, la stratégie du pays en matière d’urbanisation et de développement du territoire. (2020).

NOVI emphasises three guiding principles:

• Maximise space efficiency through multi-use development.
• Preserve the ecological balance of sites.
• Plan with future generations in mind.

The country also introduced a new tool in 2017: the Sustainable Urbanization Scale. This tool makes it possible to assess whether construction is necessary, based on the needs encountered by the population.

In March 2023, the Netherlands passed 26 laws relating to spatial planning, the living environment and the environment, known as the Omgewingswet. Since then, a one-stop shop has collected and made available to local authorities all planning regulations and plans issued by various authorities.

Global Perspectives on Logistics Warehouse Development

“Cultural differences significantly influence the approach to logistics warehouse design,” notes Paul Margot, Head of Product Management at Exotec, in a podcast on warehouse automation trends.

“In Europe, customers often prioritise ergonomics and environmental considerations. In the United States, carbon impact tends to carry less weight. The evolution of logistics properties will vary by region, shaped by cultural and socio-economic factors.” . ” A development in logistics real estate to be followed on every continent!

In France, fewer and fewer warehouses are vacant, and this trend is set to continue. While it’s difficult to increase the floor space of a warehouse, it is possible to store goods at heights, in other words, to switch to high-density storage.

Our Skypod logistics warehouse automation solution includes standardized, modular storage racks. They can reach heights of up to 12 meters to optimize your storage space. These racks are compatible with our Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR), so that all your products are accessible in less than two minutes, regardless of where they are located in your automated warehouse. To find out more, discover our high-density storage solutions.