Marks & Spencer has put plans to use biodiesel in its distribution fleet on hold, but is continuing with a major push to limit the environmental impact of its logistics network.
In its annual How We Do Business report, the retailer says its aim is to move towards the use of 50% biodiesel by 2012, but for now, this is not possible. "We've suspended the use of crop-derived biodiesel until sustainable supplies of raw materials become available," says the report.
However, the retailer is committed to reducing its carbon footprint in logistics as part of its Plan A environmental initiative, which was announced in 2007 but bolstered in March with a new set of targets. The company says it has already overtaken its 2012 goal of a 20% improvement in fuel efficiency and now plans 35% improvement by 2015.
Fuel use for general merchandise has been cut by 30% through better loading of vehicles and the introduction of 300 aerodynamic trailers.
For food, fuel consumption has been cut by 22% by moving products in higher volumes and will be further improved by the introduction of new scheduling software and real-time reporting of driver efficiency.
By the end of March this year, 84% of the company's vehicles had been upgraded to Euro-4 and Euro-5 engines, with the remainder to follow by 2012. Despite the setback with biofuels, alternative fuels are being explored.
"We have continued trials on electric and diesel-electric hybrid delivery vehicles. In 2010/11 we plan to introduce a trial fleet of LNG/diesel dual-fuel vehicles," the report explains.
The carbon impact of warehouses has been improved through a 19% reduction in energy use, as part of a planned reduction of 35% by 2012. In addition, M&S is introducing hydrogen fuel cells for its forklift trucks.
