Sainsbury’s Converts Food Waste into Biofuel to Power 30 HGVs

In a bold push toward sustainable logistics, Sainsbury’s is converting its food waste into biofuel to power its fleet of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). Starting in March, the supermarket giant will exclusively use a biofuel derived from its own food waste to fuel 30 trucks at its Emerald Park distribution center in Bristol—half of the site’s fleet.

This shift will eliminate over 3,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually—a reduction equivalent to the yearly electricity consumption of 1,950 households. Unlike conventional biofuel systems that blend biomethane with fossil fuels, this initiative ensures that every drop of fuel comes directly from Sainsbury’s waste stream, maximizing its sustainability impact.

Partnering with waste processor RenECO, Sainsbury’s transforms surplus food—unsuitable for donation or animal feed—into biogas via anaerobic digestion. This biogas is then processed into a liquid biofuel specially designed for HGV engines, creating a closed-loop energy system that enhances carbon tracking and emission reductions.

Sainsbury’s chief property and procurement officer, Patrick Dunne, said: “Today’s announcement underscores the power that collaboration has in driving impactful change across business.

“We are proud to have worked closely with our supplier RenECO to deliver a pioneering move that supports our commitment to circularity and helps us to take a further step towards becoming net zero across our operations by 2035.”

Sainsbury’s isn’t alone in its greener HGV transition. Competitor Aldi announced in September that it would convert over 30% of its fleet—more than 160 trucks—to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel, slashing its annual carbon emissions by 15,400 tonnes of CO₂e. Meanwhile, electrical retailer AO invested £2 million to shift its tractor units from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG), aiming for 90% fleet conversion by 2030.