Royal Mail has announced plans to reduce emissions by replacing diesel with hydrotreated vegetable oil in part of its heavy goods vehicle fleet.
Dubbed ‘renewable diesel,’ hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is a paraffinic made from biowaste materials rather than fossilised oil.
Without requiring engine modifications, the fuel can reduce emissions by up to 90%, according to Certas Energy, which will support Royal Mail’s adoption of HVO.
Royal Mail will introduce the alternative fuel at the Sheffield mail centre, Midlands Super Hub and Manchester vehicle operating centre, the company said on Tuesday.
Some 2.1mln litres of diesel will be saved through the move, Royal Mail said, with the plan aimed to support the company’s shift to net zero by 2040.
“We consider HVO to be a transitional fuel that helps us to take steps towards decarbonising our HGV fleet whilst low-emissions technologies continue to advance in this area,” fleet director Rob Fowler commented.
“At present, the electric and hydrogen alternatives are still in development for HGVs. Vehicle ranges are low, purchase prices are high and infrastructure is in its infancy.”
Certas will partner with Royal Mail for the first year of its shift to HVO, which will include four further sites in the coming months, the courier added.
Shares in International Distributions Services PLC (LSE:IDS), which owns Royal Mail, rose 2.8% on Tuesday to 255.4p.