UK | Sainsbury’s is set to revolutionise its logistics to transform food waste into fuel for several of its HGV trucks.
From March, the pioneering initiative will see biofuel produced directly from Sainsbury's food waste power 30 trucks at its Emerald Park distribution centre, half the site’s fleet.
This will save over 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to the yearly electricity consumption of 1,950 households.
Waste processor RenECO has worked with Sainsbury's to turn food waste that can’t be donated or used for animal feed into biogas via anaerobic digestion. This circular system will now use the output of this anaerobic digestion, the biogas, to create a liquid biofuel suitable for HGVs.
“Today’s announcement underscores the power that collaboration has in driving impactful change across business,” said Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Director of Property, Procurement, and EV Ventures.
“We are proud to have worked closely with our supplier RenCo 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.”
Unlike traditional methods that mix certified biomethane with non-renewable gases, this system ensures all fuel comes directly from Sainsbury’s waste.
By working together, the retailer and supplier have shown how collaboration is key to unlocking new ways of reducing environmental impact.
The circular system has also allowed for precise tracking of carbon emission reductions, contributing to Sainsbury’s scope 1 & 2 emission reduction targets.
