HVO was first introduced by Royal Mail in June 2023 to reduce fleet carbon emissions. The fuel is now being used at six of Royal Mail’s largest sites, and the company aims to deploy 27 million litres of HVO annually across its network by this time next year, saving a further 44,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Steps to net zero 2040
Royal Mail’s ‘Steps to Zero’ environment strategy set a goal of achieving net zero by 2040, with a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. The company already has the lowest emissions per parcel of any courier, at 218gCO2e, and aims to maintain this position in the long term.
Zebrina Hanly, Royal Mail’s Head of Environment, said: “It’s of critical importance to our customers that we do everything we can to reduce our emissions as soon as possible. Electric and hydrogen options for HGVs are still in their infancy, so whilst the technology and infrastructure are developing, our strategy is to keep emissions to a minimum by using HVO as a transitional fuel.”
Royal Mail has also introduced 5,000 electric vans as part of the decarbonisation of its fleet.
Photo courtesy of Royal Mail show the special logo on the HVO-fuelled fleet.