Decarbonising the distribution fleet
Strategic importance and current position
We operate our own transport fleet, and it accounts for around a third of our Scope 1 baseline CO2 emissions, so it’s a clear ESG strategic priority area for us, as well as being a key part of our SBTi 2030 emission reduction target.
All of our trucks comply with the latest emissions standards, and we’ve fitted refinements to the manufacturer standard build to increase efficiency and reduce emissions even further. With existing technology, the scope for step changes in a fleet that’s already operating at a high level of efficiency is small but our fleet drives around 19m miles each year, so every incremental gain is worthwhile.
Historic decarbonisation actions
- Energy efficient fleet. All our trucks comply with the latest emissions standards, and we’ve fitted refinements to the standard build to increase efficiency and reduce emissions even further.
- Driver training and route planning. We invest in safety and energy-efficiency training for our drivers. We combine this with the latest in-cab telemetry and a system of daily debriefs where driver behaviour is assessed against energy-efficiency and safety targets. We reward drivers who reach the highest standards, and we work with any drivers who need help to improve.
- Driver apprenticeships. In recent years, we have invested in training our own new drivers via a driving apprenticeship scheme. This helps to encourage our high standards from the beginning of a driver’s career.
- Use of HVO instead of diesel. We began using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (‘HVO’) as part of our fleet fuel mix in 2022. HVO is a sustainably sourced second-generation biofuel. It is plant-based and can replace diesel without requiring engine modifications. It reduces CO2 by 90% compared to diesel, and also has lower nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions.
- Trialling Bio-LNG trucks. Bio-LNG is a fuel produced by anaerobic digestion of organic waste, manure and sewage which produces 80% less CO2 than diesel. We have increased the number of trucks in our trial each year and are monitoring their viability.
- Electric vehicles for shorter-range deliveries. With current technology, there isn’t a viable electric vehicle option that has the range to replace our long-haul fleet. Our local delivery (“XDC”) network involves shorter-range deliveries and we are trialling electric vehicles for some of these deliveries
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