AkzoNobel, the Dutch paint manufacturer, has announced the deployment of its first 100% electric truck and urban trailer fleet, together with a nationwide hydrotreated vegetable oil-powered (HVO) fleet in partnership with XPO Logistics.
The move is expected to cut over 50% of transportation emissions, saving approximately 3,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. AkzoNobel is working toward cutting all Scope 1 emissions by 50% by 2030.
AkzoNobel will deploy electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGVs) under the UK government’s ZEHID (Zero-emission heavy goods vehicles and infrastructure program), and expects to be the first paint brand in the country to do so.
The carbon savings are projected to be delivered in three key areas:
- Vehicle efficiency improvements: 300 tonnes CO2 reduction
- Euro 6 engines and electric vehicles: 700 tonnes CO2 reduction
- HVO fuel adoption: 2,000 tonnes CO2r eduction
Two fully electric trucks will operate from AkzoNobel’s Slough site to serve London and the surrounding areas, not only reducing emissions but also air and noise pollution. The HVO-powered fleet will operate nationwide.
The move is the latest milestone in the company’s sustainability-focused ‘Paint the Future’ initiative. 100% of purchased electricity used in its UK operations in 2024 was renewable, and a 41% reduction in scope 1 emissions was achieved in the same year.
Kathryn Ledson, MD decorative paints UK&I, AkzoNobel, commented, “The launch of our new electric and HVO-powered fleets is a proud milestone in our sustainability journey. At AkzoNobel, we are committed to painting the future by taking bold forward-thinking action – not only though the innovative and sustainable products we create for our customers, but also through how we function as a business.”
Dan Myers, managing director UK&I, XPO Logistics, added, “AkzoNobel and XPO Logistics are united by a belief that real progress is built on action, not aspiration. By delivering measurable, large-scale emissions reductions through our logistics partnership, we’re turning shared values into shared results.”