SAMWORTH BROTHERS SUPPLY CHAIN – TAKING CLIMATE ACTION
Samworth Brothers Supply Chain – taking climate action
As part of our overall Responsible Business strategy, ‘Making Good Things Happen’, Samworth Brothers is working to significantly cut carbon emissions to help avoid the worst effects of climate change.
One part of this climate action journey is happening at Samworth Brothers Supply Chain.
Unlike many other food manufacturers, Samworth Brothers has its own HGV fleet. Samworth Brothers Supply Chain (SBSC) operates around 250 HGV trailers out of Leicester and outbases in Penrith, Bristol and Cornwall delivering for Samworth Brothers and other food producers.
In 2019, SBSC benchmarked its carbon to just over 29,000 tonnes and accelerated its ambition to make demonstrable, cumulative change each year thereafter. Some six years later it has now delivered an almost one third reduction in its carbon output, saving nearly 9,000 tonnes.
The climate action journey
Achieving best fuel efficiency has been a major priority and maximum ‘miles per gallon’ (MPG). SBSC has improved its MPG by 15% in this period (from an already impressive base number) to a benchmark saving of 6,000 tonnes. Several factors have helped to deliver this result. SBSC strives to operate the most fuel-efficient units available, all maintained in-house to an exceptional standard. It runs a talented Samworth Brothers Academy to ensure drivers are the best trained, supported by leading telematics, and has increased the use of ‘double decker’ units which are more fuel efficient.
All our 125 strong trailer fleet in Leicester are now powered by either on Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) or electric, saving a further 2,000 tonnes of carbon. In terms of trailers, we operate ten dynamo powered and are soon to operate a further five solar powered.
We’re also now introducing electric units. Most SBSC journeys are longer runs on the UK’s motorway network, however much of our primary movements in the Leicester area are short shunts into our main hub with journeys of 4 to 18 miles, so very suitable for an electric option. We now have six in operation, high speed charging on site and coupled with electric trailers allowing us to operate emission free.
In addition, SBSC operate a small fleet of ten Liquid Natural Gas (LNGs) on certain other key routes. This unit investment of LNGs and Electric will have saved another 1,000 tonnes of carbon by the end of 2025.
Find more information on our carbon emissions reduction strategy here: