Cereal Partners UK (CPUK), the manufacturer of Nestlé Cereals, has purchased its first eHGV in an effort to progress towards its target of reaching net zero by 2050.
The battery electric vehicle comes from manufacturer Volvo and will be based at CPUK’s factory in Staverton, Wiltshire. The company says that the eHGV will primarily be used in the delivery of stock from CPUK’s distribution centre in Melksham, Wiltshire to customers in the surrounding area, as well as to move pallets around the Staverton site.
To support the deployment of this new electric vehicle (EV), CPUK has installed a 160kW DC EV charger at the distribution centre, capable of charging the Volvo eHGV in two hours.
For more on electric vehicles in logistics, look out for the electric vehicles feature in the March issue of Logistics Manager.
Nestlé UK and Ireland has committed to halving its emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, while CPUK has committed to a 20% reduction in its emissions by 2025, which it is says that it is ‘set to achieve this year ahead of schedule’.
Patryk Zmaczyński, head of supply chain & procurement at CPUK, said: “As we continue to evolve our operations to be more sustainable, the purchase of our first electric truck marks a notable landmark in our aim our commitment of being net zero by 2050.
“We have been early adopters of electric vehicles and continue to invest significantly in the technology. The investment in the vehicle and charging point will enable us to start to deliver our much-loved brands to our customers in a way that has a reduced impact on the environment.”
EVs are not the only angle that Nestlé UK and Ireland is exploring to decarbonise its transport operations. The firm has deployed trucks running on liquefied natural gas (bio-LNG) and, in August 2023, it launched a double-stacked rail freight trial for deliveries to supermarket chain Tesco. This trial seeks to transport more goods in one rail journey, saving emissions by reducing the number of trips needed.
Logistics Manager is hosting a panel discussion on alternative fuels and the decarbonisation of road transport logistics at the co-located IntraLogisteX, Robotics and Automation, and Sustainable Supply Chain exhibitions on 19-20 March 2024 at the NEC Birmingham. Click here to find out more!
To improve sustainability within its wider supply chain, CPUK launched the Nestlé Wheat Plan in 2022, which it describes as ‘an innovative sustainable farming initiative that forms partnerships with British wheat farmers to support the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices’.
