Knowles Logistics recently joined forces with FMCG supply chain consultancy expert Simply Supply Chain and Volvo Trucks UK to host a decarbonisation event showcasing their collaborative net zero efforts.
Customers, suppliers and partners were among those invited to the event at Knowles’ site in Wisbech, organised to promote the practical benefits of sustainable operations as part of the company’s ongoing quest to achieve long-term business resilience.
So far Knowles has converted 7% of its fleet to electric vehicles, with further advances planned.
Guests heard from a number of speakers, including from Knowles, Volvo Trucks and Simply Supply Chain as well as Logistics UK, Project Jolt, Malcolm Group, Freightliner and Gasrec.
The event was organised to complement Knowles’ ongoing ESG strategy to reduce the environmental impact of its operations.
A detailed analysis of Knowles’ operations three years ago revealed the company produced 13,805 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.
Based on the findings, Knowles developed a roadmap to reduce its emissions year on year and achieve net zero by 2045.
As well as switching to electric vehicles and MHE, solar power and rainwater harvesting are also helping Knowles inch ever closer to its goals.
With 96.7% of its carbon footprint coming from transport, Knowles has focused much of its investment on its fleet, including six Volvo electric trucks and one Renault 19 tonner for regional pallet deliveries. Two further electric trucks are soon to be delivered to Masters Logistical which forms part of Knowles Logistics.
Its artic vehicles have also been fitted with bespoke air deflectors to ensure optimal aerodynamics, further reducing emissions and increasing vehicle efficiency.
The company has also invested heavily in solar energy and LED lighting to ensure maximised sustainability throughout its operations. Knowles has installed more than 1,000 solar panels at one of its four sites alone.
Using an average 89,000 kWs a month, 27,000 kWs of this comes directly from renewable energy and the remaining 62,000 from the green energy grid. Last year the amount of renewable energy utilised in Knowles’ operations reached 434,000 kWs.
Alex Knowles, MD of Knowles Logistics, said: “Every day we are moving another step closer to fulfilling our net zero ambitions.
“Our decarbonisation event was an excellent way to showcase our efforts and to share best practice so we and our guests can continue learning from each other and take away ideas which may further help the cause within each of our organisations.
“Our aim is to achieve net zero across our warehousing sites by 2030 and our transport fleet by 2045 and the decarbonisation event was a good way of showcasing the moves we are making every single day to achieve our goals.”
