UK – Coca-Cola’s European bottling company has partnered with packaging manufacturer Ball Beverage to trial HVO-fueled vehicles in an effort to reduce carbon emissions.
CCEP is conducting a one-year trial of using vegetable oil as a partial fuel for vehicles at the Wakefield factory of the aluminum can manufacturer.
Hydrotreated vegetable oil, or HVO, is a renewable alternative fuel that has the potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with supply chain transportation. This includes the entire process, from the production of a can to the final delivery to the consumer.
Other companies across the food industry, such as Aldi and Tesco, are using it as a means to reduce their environmental impact.
Around 5,000 deliveries will be powered by a blend of HVO and diesel fuel during CCEP’s trial, which could result in a 300-tonne reduction of carbon emissions in the supply chain per year, it said.
The move is also part of Ball’s broader Carbon Transition Plan, which outlines the company’s path towards becoming a fully circular and decarbonized business in alignment with its net-zero ambitions.
“We are delighted to work with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners on such an important project,” said Tom McCarthy, Vice President of Integrated Business Planning at Ball Beverage Packaging EMEA.
“Tackling emissions from transport is extremely important to us, from the production of the can to the final delivery stage. Through strong collaboration with our customers and suppliers across the value chain, we are working towards achieving our sustainability goals.”
Meanwhile, CCEP has been using HVO and other alternative fuels across its European subsidiaries, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, for a couple of years.
The world’s largest independent Coca-Cola bottler has set a goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2040 and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout its entire value chain by 30% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels.
Francisco Javier Sanchez Gandarias, CCEP Great Britain’s Vice President of Customer Service and Supply Chain, said, “We consider it our duty as a prominent manufacturer in Great Britain to promote collaboration throughout the supply chain.
“We are aligned with Ball Beverage Packaging’s goals in reducing emissions from transportation. By working together, we can have a greater impact in addressing the climate challenge.
“We are actively encouraging all of our third-party partners to adopt lower carbon solutions in order to produce and deliver the beverages that people love in a more sustainable manner.”
