Walkers transitions to using used cooking oil for crisp deliveries
PepsiCo is now using trucks powered by hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) – used cooking oil – to transport Walkers crisps from its distribution centre in Leicester to retailers across the UK.
The move will see low-carbon HVO replace diesel across approximately 11 million miles of truck journeys by the end of 2024 and will save the company an additional 13,000 tonnes in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by the end of 2024 (compared to using conventional diesel to travel the same miles).
In partnership with Stobart, the crisps will now be transported from PepsiCo’s Leicester site to retailers using five million litres of HVO to fuel over 11 million miles of UK HGV truck journeys across the remainder of this year. Every kilometre powered by HVO generates 85% less GHG emissions (as certified by the Zemo Partnership) when compared with conventional diesel, reducing the impact of these journeys on the planet as Walkers crisps make their way to customers.
It is the latest in a series of green initiatives announced by PepsiCo over the past two years to expand the use of sustainable HVO fuel across the business. HVO has already replaced diesel on trucks travelling between the Quaker Oats mill in Cupar and Walkers’ home in Leicester, alongside routes between British farms and Leicester.
This means that low carbon HVO is now being used to power 40% of transportation used to make and deliver Walkers crisps, with PepsiCo’s total miles running on HVO fuel equating to 14 million this year, saving over 16,000 tonnes in GHG emissions.
The initiative forms part of PepsiCo Positive, the company’s transformation programme which includes a goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2040. It will also help support the decarbonisation goals of its partner Stobart, as it works towards achieving science-based targets.
Simon Devaney, sustainability director, PepsiCo UK & Ireland, said: “Scaling up our use of HVO-powered trucks to transport our Walkers crisps all over the country is a significant further step in our decarbonisation journey. By continuing to invest in green logistics initiatives with trusted partners we’re moving even closer to our goal of net zero by 2040.”
David Pickering, CEO, Stobart, said: “This important initiative will help Stobart and PepsiCo to jointly decarbonise their supply chain service by over 13,000 tonnes carbon this year alone. We’re now actively working on further initiatives with PepsiCo to continue to accelerate our decarbonisation journey.”
