BWG Foods has today (16 September) announced a major €11 million sustainability investment programme aimed at significantly decreasing the environmental footprint of its large-scale nationwide supply chain.
As part of the investment programme, BWG Foods has become the first FMCG group in the country to launch a fleet of CNG (compressed natural gas) vehicles following an initial investment of more than €2 million in 14 new trucks along with supporting infrastructure, the wholesale and retail group said in a statement.
Speaking following a fact-finding walking tour of BWG Food’s National Distribution Centre, Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin said: “It’s very encouraging to see a major business like BWG Foods take a leadership position across industry with this exciting investment programme which will significantly reduce the business’ environmental impact.
The Group, which has partnered with Gas Networks Ireland around the initiative, has plans to extend its investment in CNG vehicles by an additional €6 million for a further 50 vehicles by 2025 as part of its wider supply chain sustainability programme.
"I hope other companies will be encouraged by this decision and will take steps to follow suit by making meaningful changes that will help protect our environment in the fight against climate change.”
CO2 Emissions Reduced
The group stated that its new vehicles, which use natural gas as the most environmentally friendly fossil fuel, are currently generating C02 savings of up to 22% per truck.
Each of BWG Foods’ new trucks will complete approximately 120,000 kilometres over the next 12 months, with each truck saving 7.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the process, it said.
When biogas becomes available for use, BWG Foods projects that CO2 emissions from its new delivery fleet will decrease by approximately 90 percent compared with today’s levels.
“Our focus in BWG Foods is to create an environmentally sustainable business that makes a positive contribution to the communities in which we operate," Willie O'Byrne, managing director, BWG Foods said.
"Today’s announcement marks progress made and is a statement of our intent to substantially reduce the environmental impact of our expansive nationwide supply chain operation."
BWG Foods operates one of the largest delivery fleets in the country with approximately 280 vehicles, which combined cover over 25 million kilometres per year.
Other Sustainability Initiatives
BWG Foods has recenty invested €3 million in the rollout of LED and sensor lighting across the BWG Foods’ retail network, its nationwide Cash & Carry network and its 240,000 sq. ft. National Distribution Centre facility in Kilcarbery.
The has also recently partnered with renewable energy efficiency company Enerpower for the rollout of solar panels across its branded retail network with Eurospar Gortahork the first site to go solar under this scheme last month.
O’Byrne highlighted: "This announcement complements a number of other sustainability initiatives that we have launched at store level including energy, waste and plastic reduction programmes.”
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
