UK retailer Sainsbury’s has announced that its Nine Elms London superstore is now operating a fully electric delivery fleet.
The delivery fleet comprises 12 vans, with both the vehicle and fridge units powered by electricity.
It will not emit carbon emissions or dust, dirt, soot, or smoke into the air, resulting in zero-emission deliveries.
The new vans will also operate much more quietly, helping to reduce noise pollution in local communities, Sainsbury’s noted.
Patrick Dunne, director of property and procurement at Sainsbury’s said, "We’re thrilled to have launched a fully electric fleet in our Nine Elms superstore and we hope our customers will be delighted to learn that their groceries are being delivered with zero emissions, helping to reduce the environmental impact of their online shopping.
"This is just the first step for us, as we have committed to rolling out electric vans across the country to all our stores by 2035."
Fully Electric Fleet
The move will benefit approximately 145,000 households covered by Sainsbury’s Nine Elms delivery area.
The store makes over 2,000 deliveries on average each week, covering approximately 1,760 miles.
This means that the new 100% electric vans will help to save around 57 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, thereby helping to reduce air pollution in the local area.
The move is part of the retailers’ transition to operating a fully electric fleet in all its stores by 2035.
The new fleet will also help Sainsbury’s achieve its commitment to achieving net zero in its operations by 2035.
Other Initiatives
The retailer has implemented several measures to reduce its carbon emissions and energy usage.
Last year, it introduced LED lighting across its entire estate, reducing energy consumption by an average of 70%.
Through the Sainsbury’s Innovation Investments programme, it plans to invest at least £5 million over the next four years into start-up businesses commercialising innovative, sustainable technologies that look to reduce operational carbon emissions.
Read More: Carlsberg Sweden Rolls Out Electric Fleet
© 2023 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
