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Rapeseed oil is used as diesel fuel either as biodiesel or blended


fuel supplied to the UK under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), 632 million litres (66%) “has so far been proven to be sustainable”. However, putting aside question marks over sustainability, food pricing and poverty, the emissions saving from biofuels can prove to be a compelling argument in favour of choosing the green fuel. Although the figure excludes emissions from ILUC, an aggregate greenhouse gas saving of 68% compared to fossil fuels could be achieved over a one year period, according to the DFT. It is this reason that some retailers, despite the uncertainty, have opted to pursue biofuels.


Uptake Biomethane, a naturally occurring gas produced by anaerobic digestion has been used by several freight companies and retailers including the John Lewis Partnership. The Partnership’s 280 Waitrose stores alone currently produce a total of 6000 tonnes of food waste per year which could yield over 420,000m³ of biomethane. Sainsbury’s currently use several trucks running on biomethane that originated from landfill.


Bio-LNG provider Gasrec is supplying B&Q fuel for 50 dual fuel


lorries mixed with 60% biomethane. The change in fuel mix is part of the home improvement retailer’s commitment to reduce its CO2 emissions from business travel and haulage to 50% by 2023. Currently B&Q has reached a 36% reduction. As part of its ‘F Plan’ Tesco is working with the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board to explore how combining diesel with biogas can reduce emissions. Helen Fleming, Tesco sustainability director, says: “We now have 35 lorries running on dual fuel six days a week. By working with the government to apply this breakthrough technology at scale, we hope to use our scale for good and help create a refuelling network across the country.” In 2007, Waitrose started a six month trial to power five of its


lorries by rapeseed oil. The company said that despite the engine and fuel tank modifications it would have to make it had opted to trial rapeseed oil as opposed to more conventional biodiesels because it boasts a cleaner production process and can be sourced from UK and German farms as opposed to tropical plantations that may have contributed to deforestation. At the time the company aimed to roll the technology out across its fleet of 300 vehicles if proved successful. Waitrose has said since that its “lorries used in delivery have the most environmentally friendly engines available under EU standards, and some are even fuelled by rapeseed oil to cut back on carbon emissions.”


Biodiesel


Biodiesel produced from straight vegetable oil, animal oil/fats, tallow and waste cooking oil, has also been used as an alternative as it produces 60-100% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared with petroleum diesel, depending on what oil or fat is used. Leading online retailer Ocado, for instance, introduced biodiesel to its fleets a few years ago “when studies proved that it was one of the most efficient fuels available”. However, the retailer says: “Following recent negative reports, we are now investigating the benefits of biodiesel and other fuels in relation to their overall environmental impact.


JUNE 2013 | RETAIL ENVIRONMENT 37


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