Companies leading the way trying to reduce their CO2 impact from travel

Innovative companies B&Q: Aiming to halve CO2 emissions

As the largest home improvement and garden centre retailer in the UK, B&Q has more than 390 stores scattered across the UK, Ireland and China.

   

With a product range in excess of 40,000 items, a streamlined transport system is a crucial part of B&Q’s success. A new fleet of double-decker lorries could help them halve their carbon emissions by 2023.

   

It is also one of the main areas where the retailer sees an opportunity to slash its CO2 emissions. Given that 21% of total UK emissions result directly from transport, this approach to reducing the company’s carbon footprint makes sense.

   

Trucking into a greener future

B&Q added new double-decker lorries to its transport line-up in 2009, with another 120 scheduled to join the fleet.

   

Two levels mean more loading space for stock, resulting in fewer journeys and savings in both fuel and carbon emissions.

   

To make the most of the extra capacity, B&Q has employed clever packing strategies and changed the packaging of many products to cram yet more stock into each trailer.

   

The fleet’s maximum speed has been reduced to ensure better fuel consumption and to reduce emissions. The result? B&Q expects to save a massive 14,400 miles and 13.8 tonnes of CO2 every day when the double-decker roll-out is complete.

   

Going green has financial rewards too

“The introduction of double-decker trailers fits perfectly with B&Q’s One Planet Living strategy as you can get up to 50% more stock in them,” explains Rick Jones, Director of Logistics at B&Q.

   

“This means we can reduce the amount of vehicles we need, the miles we do on the road and our carbon contribution. Plus we’ll also save millions of pounds in fuel.”


Team Green Britain and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd (LOCOG) do not endorse any of the products, companies, organisations, opinions or websites that have been mentioned in this article. The content of this article has merely been provided as background to, or discussion on, various topical issues relating to the environment and it is not necessarily representative of the views of Team Green Britain and LOCOG. Further, any figures and calculations noted in this article are estimates (unless otherwise specified), and may vary in light of numerous factors and readers are advised to undertake their own research in relation to the facts and figures applicable to their particular circumstance.

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