Driving Change: How HVO Fuel is Powering Our Journey to Net Zero

At the heart of our business lies a commitment to sustainability and innovation, ensuring that our foodservice operations leave a lighter footprint on the planet. As part of our goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2040, we've embraced Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel, a game-changing alternative to traditional diesel that's leading the charge in our environmental efforts.

HVO is a renewable fuel produced from used cooking oils and plant-based waste. Through a process known as hydrotreatment, these materials are transformed into a clean-burning fuel that can be used in diesel engines without modifications.

HVO outshines conventional diesel in several key ways:

• Reduced Emissions: With up to 90% lower carbon emissions compared to diesel, HVO significantly decreases tailpipe emissions.
• Cleaner Combustion: HVO burns more efficiently, producing fewer harmful particulates and emissions, which contributes to better air quality.
• Sustainable Production: Derived from only waste and renewable feedstocks, our accredited HVO helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels, supporting a circular economy.

Our commitment to sustainability led us to to trial HVO earlier this year, and the results exceeded expectations. Here's how we've integrated this greener fuel into our operations:

• Local Route Integration: We've implemented HVO fuel for vehicles serving our local routes from Staverton. These shorter routes are the ideal testing ground to assess the practicality and performance of HVO before expanding further.
• Carbon Savings: By using HVO, we've slashed the carbon footprint of these routes by up to 90%, marking a significant milestone in reducing our overall emissions. So far, we've used 20,000 litres of HVO in 2024 alone, saving approximately 45,000kg in net CO2 output.
• Future Expansion: We're actively reviewing the logistics and costs of rolling our HVO fuel across our other depots. The shift requires dedicated fuel pumps and other infrastructure investments, making it a carefully considered but exciting next step.

The adoption of HVO fuel exemplifies our commitment to tangible, impactful ESG initiatives. While challenges like infrastructure updates remain, we're confident that HVO will play a critical role in helping us meet our net zero ambitions. Together with innovations in vehicle technology and smarter routing, we're driving towards a cleaner, greener future for our business and the communities we serve.

By choosing HVO fuel and embracing sustainable practices, we're proving that logistics and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand, a powerful step forward on our journey to 2040 and beyond.