UK parcel carrier Yodel says it has reduced its carbon emissions by 25% despite record growth over the last five years. The significant reduction can, it states, be attributed to a £17m (US$25m) investment in its fleet and associated technology.
For example, Yodel has introduced a policy whereby all vehicles owned by the business must be three years old or younger. Thanks to this initiative, every vehicle is Low Emission Zone (LEZ), Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Euro 6 compliant, meeting all clean air zones requirements.
The business has also made a significant reduction in emissions through its investment in Microlise technology for all its tractor units and trailers. This software monitors factors such as speed, location and road traffic levels and reports the data to Yodel’s Business Control Tower, to inform real-time decisions on routes and performance. Drivers also use Microlise’s Android-based DriveTab tablet devices to optimize their performance. Yodel says this has already yielded a 7% improvement in fuel efficiency since the introduction of the technology
The company has also expanded its urban bicycle delivery offering. It is now operating in seven cities across the UK, including London and Oxford. In 2020 it reached a goal to deliver 150,000 parcels via pedal power and has set a new goal of delivering more than 300,000 parcels in 2021.
Mike Hancox, chief executive officer at Yodel, commented, “Throughout the challenges of this past year we remained committed to positively contributing not only to our people and communities, but also to our environment. As a key operator in the logistics sector, we take our environmental responsibility very seriously. The proactive approach to becoming more eco-friendly is key in all our decision making and it is great to see that our long-term investment has tangibly reduced our impact on the environment. We continue to innovate and trial new ways of reducing our carbon footprint, and we’re looking forward to improving our practices further, offering greener services, and contributing to Britain’s 2050 net zero emissions target.”
