Office Depot switches from vans to cycles in London

Stationery firm Office Depot has switched from vans to cycles for 75% of its deliveries within the City of London.

Previously the firm used an eight-strong dedicated van fleet for the London EC postcodes, emitting 320kg of CO2 daily, but this will be reduced to 80kg by the introduction of six cycles and the removal of six vans.

The cargo cycles each weigh 100kg, with a payload of 185kg, and will deliver about 1,350 cartons of office supplies daily in the area.

Although the cycles are pedal-powered, they come with a battery-powered motor to provide extra force when needed.

Ross Kavanagh, Office Depot's UK & Ireland procurement and supply chain director says: "The new cycles will see three quarters of our van deliveries cut from the City's roads, reducing traffic in the Square Mile and cutting harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Pedal power is good for Office Depot, good for our customers, good for London and good for the planet as a whole."

The company is currently reviewing whether the scheme will be extended to other areas of London and elsewhere in the country.