Based on latest findings, 19% of world meals system greenhouse fuel (GHG) emissions are attributable to transportation – which is between 3.5 and seven.5 occasions larger than beforehand estimated. These numbers far exceed the transport emissions of different commodities.
If meals producers are to scale back their GHG emissions – and for those who have set them, obtain internet zero targets – transport have to be a part of the answer.
Beverage and snacks main PepsiCo aspires to achieve internet zero emissions by 2040, and is rethinking its logistics technique to assist it get there. Within the UK, a brand new set of ‘inexperienced’ logistics initiatives, to be absolutely rolled-out by the tip of 2023, is estimated to avoid wasting greater than 1,200 tonnes of GHG emissions per yr.
Changing diesel with cooking oil
Beginning this month, PepsiCo UK will energy a couple of million 1000’s of truck journeys yearly with used cooking oil. Working with PepsiCo’s haulage companion Pollock (Scotrans) Ltd, the Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) will exchange diesel for truck journeys between the Quaker Oat mill in Cupar and Leicester.
Each mile powered by HVO could have 80% much less GHG emissions in comparison with typical diesel.
PepsiCo UK is sourcing the HVO gasoline generated with used cooking oil from its third-party provider however is investigating whether or not the corporate might finally use its personal provide. “Waste oil from our manufacturing websites [is] repurposed into gasoline and we’re exploring how we will use this to shut the loop sooner or later,” Simon Devaney, Sustainability Director at PepsiCo, advised FoodNavigator.
“However because of our environment friendly processes we now have little or no waste, so it will not be sufficient to energy our fleet.”

As HVO is a ‘drop-in’ gasoline, it may be used as a direct substitute for diesel with none modifications to the car. “There’s at the moment not sufficient provide to fill all vans utilized by PepsiCo UK, nonetheless we’re working with our haulage companions to make the swap as rapidly as potential,” Devaney defined.
The initiative is a primary for PepsiCo within the UK, however the firm is exploring methods to develop using HVO additional.
Electrical autos in Leicester
On the identical time, PepsiCo is introducing electrical autos to maneuver pallets of Walkers crisps round its distribution heart in Leicester. The primary within the fleet of electrical yard autos was delivered earlier this month with plans to develop additional in 2023.
“Utilizing different fuels throughout our manufacturing and logistics operation is one key element in our plan to scale back our emissions footprint,” Devaney defined.
When these new initiatives have been absolutely rolled-out, PepsiCo UK estimates it should obtain a 1,200-tonne discount in GHG emissions throughout its UK provide chain per yr in comparison with present operations.
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Different GHG emission-saving initiatives beforehand rolled out throughout PepsiCo’s UK manufacturing websites embrace the swap to 100% renewable electrical energy. Waste from producing Walkers crisps is used to make animal feed and biofuel, in addition to fueling the corporate’s anaerobic digester. The anaerobic digester alone generates 25% of the electrical energy required to energy the Leicester manufacturing web site.
The corporate has additionally upgraded its Leicester distribution heart web site to extend storage capability, eradicating the necessity to transport product to and from off-site storage amenities. PepsiCo UK estimates this has resulted in a discount of greater than 300,000km of transportation – the equal of touring world wide 15 occasions.
“This work on this space isn’t achieved, and we’re continually exploring each potential resolution to scale back our impression on the planet,” continued the sustainability lead. “These initiatives have large potential, and we sit up for increasing using lower-emissions transport options throughout our UK operations.”
Final month, PepsiCo introduced plans to take away 250 tonnes of virgin from its provide chain thanks to 2 packaging improvements.
A brand new stretch movie was developed – to wrap round pallets of its Walkers crisps – made with ‘tiny air bubbles’ inside it to scale back the quantity of plastic used. The corporate can also be changing plastic outer packaging of Walkers multipacks with a brand new cardboard design to additional scale back the quantity of virgin plastic used.
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