Schenker Australia has opened a new distribution centre in Altona.

Logistics specialist Schenker Australia has opened a new $8.5 million eco-friendly distribution centre in Altona.

It features low-emission T5 lighting - an innovation that operators say will save emissions equivalent to the output of 13 residential homes annually.

The new facility will also harvest rainwater to deliver significant savings similar to one of the company's other centres at Tullamarine, according to Schenker Australia CEO Ron Koehler.

The 18,000 sqm logistics centre operates eight recessed docks and a 2,000 sqm awning, allowing transport and logistics operations to co-exist on the one site safely and efficiently.

At the recent opening of the centre, Minister for Roads Terry Mulder applauded the state-of-the-art facility and said supporting innovation and growth for the freight and logistics sector is a high priority for government.

"The technological innovation used in this new Schenker Australia facility demonstrates great initiative that will deliver a more sustainable freight and logistics service for its customers."

Schenker Australia is the local arm of DB Schenker, the world's second-largest transportation and logistics service provider based on sales and performance. The company is in its 51st year of Australian operations and offers the full range of freight forwarding, contract logistics services and supply chain management, national distribution as well as customs clearance.