The transport of 240,000 tonnes potatoes each year from PepsiCo’s British farmers to its Leicester site is now entirely powered by used cooking oil, in partnership with AB Texel UK.
The move follows PepsiCo’s introduction of the alternative fuel in 2022, for more than one and a half million kilometres of truck journeys moving product between the Quaker Oats mill in Cupar and its Leicester distribution centre. Every kilometre powered by HVO generates 80% less GHG emissions when compared with conventional diesel.
PepsiCo plans to expand its use of HVO to its transport operations in Scotland later this year. This future expansion is expected to reduce GHG emissions by another 5,000 tonnes annually. By the end of 2023, PepsiCo expects to be using HVO to power around 9 million kilometres of journeys across the UK.
The initiative forms part of PepsiCo Positive, a programme which includes a goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2040.
Lewis Chisholm, director AB Texel UK, said: “Our ambition is to limit our effect on global warming by reducing our own CO2 emissions to 0% by 2050. The use of renewable fuels, in which we are taking an important step together with PepsiCo, contributes to the realisation of this ambitious goal.”
This move builds on several lower-emissions logistics initiatives announced by PepsiCo, including the two electric trucks, powered by freight mobility technology company Einride, which were deployed to transport product between PepsiCo’s factories in Leicester and Coventry. The company has also introduced new electric yard vehicles which will transport 40,000 pallets around the Leicester site.