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This past week marked significant milestones for two of the UK's leading parcel delivery giants as they continue to charge forward in their mission to decarbonize their operations. DPD UK proudly announced that one-third of its final mile delivery fleet is fully electric, propelling it closer to its ambitious goal of slashing emissions by 46 percent from a 2020 baseline by the end of 2024. Additionally, 95 percent of DPD UK's transport fleet now runs on Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO), underscoring its commitment to greener logistics.
In a recent sustainability report, DPD UK revealed the addition of 350 electric vehicles (EVs) to its fleet, bringing the total number of EVs to nearly 4,000. This move strengthens DPD UK's eco-friendly delivery capabilities and aligns with its broader environmental goals.
Moreover, DPD UK is on the verge of opening a new flagship sortation center in Bromley-By-Bow, Docklands, come November. This state-of-the-art facility bolsters the company's ability to consistently achieve over 90 percent electric vehicle deliveries for the final mile in London, reinforcing its role as a leader in sustainable urban logistics.
Tim Jones, director of marketing, communications, and sustainability at DPDgroup UK, said: "Six years into our sustainability journey, and we are more committed than ever to delivering real benefits in terms of decarbonising our business and improving every aspect of our operation. While our fully validated net zero target remains 2040, we are working hard to bring through as much change and innovation as possible right now, and, as these figures show, we are on track with the trajectory required to meet the group target and are making a real difference already.
"There will be harder challenges down the line; we are well aware of that, but we will continue to work with the best in the sustainability space and invest in the innovation required to get to where we want to be."
In the same week, e-commerce behemoth Amazon announced its latest expansion in green logistics, unveiling a new micromobility hub near Norwich station. This hub introduces electric cargo delivery bikes to the city, marking another stride in Amazon's ambitious £300 million plan to electrify and decarbonize its UK transportation network.
With Norwich joining over 40 cities across the UK and Europe that boast micro-mobility hubs, Amazon is accelerating its push toward sustainable urban deliveries. These hubs facilitate the use of electric cargo bikes and on-foot couriers, further embedding the company's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint while enhancing delivery efficiency in densely populated areas.
"Our new electric cargo bikes are part of Amazon's commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions across our operations by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement," said Connor Ashford, senior delivery station manager at Amazon in Norwich. "This is a proud moment for our team, and great news for customers across the city who will benefit from zero-emissions deliveries to their door."
The new service is to be delivered in partnership with local courier company, Danzen Logistics. Dan Zenchuk, owner of Danzen Logistics, said: "We are delighted to work with Amazon to bring this fleet of electric cargo bikes to Norwich. We think the electric cargo bikes are going to be a big hit with customers, while also supporting Amazon's sustainability commitments, and providing additional delivery rider opportunities in the area."
In other notable developments within the logistics sector, European asset management firm Infinium Logistics has successfully finalized the acquisition of two adjoining sites in West Thurrock in a transaction valued at approximately £15 million. This strategic move paves the way for the company to transform the site into an electrified FleetHub, which accommodates parking and charging facilities for 250 and 500 vans.
Infinium Logistics emphasized that the location's strategic positioning offers proximity to significant parcel carrier hubs in Essex and North-East London, making it an ideal spot for streamlined logistics operations. Additionally, its proximity to Lakeside Shopping Centre presents unique opportunities for local businesses to leverage the FleetHub model, further enhancing regional delivery capabilities while supporting the broader push toward electrification in the logistics industry.
"This acquisition is a strategic milestone for Infinium as we continue to expand our capabilities in electrified transport infrastructure," said Tom Gough, investment director at Infinium. "The site's prime location and our development plans align perfectly with our mission to deliver optimised facilities that meet the growing demand for efficient and low-carbon transport. We are excited to integrate these new sites into our platform and look forward to the positive impact they will have on the local community and the broader energy transition efforts."
Phil Bayliss, CEO of Infinium, predicted the company's new hubs would be well positioned to meet "fast growing demand".
"As the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of EVs continues to decrease, we anticipate fast growing demand for this essential infrastructure," he said. "By combining smart energy procurement and storage solutions with advances in technology and efficient real estate design, FleetHubs can provide low-carbon, low-cost power solutions for transport. This will contribute to cleaner air and a healthier environment for the local community while providing competitive advantages for forward thinking fleet operators."
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