Biofuel-powered lorries – which can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 98% compared to fossil fuels – are now being trialled by Diageo in partnership with its haulage providers, Malcolm Logistics.
The trial, running until the end of October, will see 11 vehicles powered by a fuel made out of vegetable oil and hydrogen (HVO) operating into and out of Diageo Leven, Fife, to assess the performance and reliability of the machines.
Leven is the company’s largest packaging site globally, with Malcolm Logistics running up to 100 lorry loads in and out of the site every day. The trial alone is expected to save up to 171 tons of greenhouse gas emissions over its duration, with the potential for a whole lot more if the technology gets adopted full-time.
The trial is the latest in a series of initiatives from Diageo Leven as part of the company’s ‘environmental, social, and governance’ goals. Earlier this year, the site’s 8000 panel solar array was switched on, and on May 29th, those solar panels powered the site entirely for a full day when more than 580,000 bottles of spirits were produced.
Diageo logistics director Gavin Brogan said: “At Diageo, we’re acutely aware of our responsibility to lead the way in exploring new technologies to minimise climate harm and protect our environment. The biofuel trial with Malcolm’s is an exciting next step in our journey towards Net Zero, and if successful, could be a game-changer for reducing CO2 emissions from our supply chain.
“Our Leven packaging site is making great strides in its sustainability initiatives, including the new solar panel array. It’s an exciting time for the business as we innovate with partners to find more sustainable ways of operating and I’m looking forward to seeing the outcomes of this trial.”
