On the Road to Decarbonisation & Electrification with M&S

Luxury British retailer and supermarket Marks & Spencer (widely known as M&S) is among an ambitious cohort of corporations aiming to achieve net zero by 2040, rather than the far more common deadline of 2050.
With ambition must come action, and M&S is taking big steps toward its goal by procuring 85 low-emission vehicles for its operational fleet.
This move is a key component of the retailer's Plan A roadmap, specifically devised to slash operational carbon emissions.
The road to sustainability
Sustainable logistics is an expensive field, but M&S has not shied away from big investments in its future.
It now has five zero-emission battery-electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in its Clothing & Home fleet. These vehicles, comprised of 42-tonne Renault electric trucks, will operate across its network.
They connect the Welham Green distribution center to 30 significant stores spanning London and the South East, touching critical shopping destinations such as Oxford Street and Bluewater.
This fleet enhancement is part of the broader eFREIGHT 2030 project, receiving significant backing from the UK Government through the Zero Emission HGV Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme.
There's a dual purpose to this initiative: to speed up the shift towards zero-emission road freight and to bolster the development of the charging infrastructure across the country.
“Adapting our logistics network is vital in achieving our Plan A Net Zero ambitions. Through collaboration, we’re reducing carbon, saving energy and driving operational efficiencies while delivering products with a lower environmental impact.”
Natural gas as a vehicle fuel
Complementing the electric HGVs, M&S is introducing 30 new trucks powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) for its Clothing & Home operations.
These include the first 6x2 CNG truck launched by any UK retailer, crafted in collaboration with IVECO. Before its rollout, this truck was thoroughly tested to confirm its reliability, operational efficiency, and reduced emissions profile.
Moreover, an additional 50 4x2 CNG vehicles have been deployed into the M&S Food logistics fleet, managed by Gist.
These trucks use biomethane—a renewable fuel source derived from organic waste like food scraps and wastewater.
Utilising biomethane can curtail CO2 emissions by up to 85% when compared to traditional diesel engines, signifying a significant stride towards decarbonising M&S's supply chain.
Committing to a cleaner future
With these 85 new lower-emission vehicles, M&S has ensured that nearly 10% of its entire transport fleet is now equipped with either zero or low-emission solutions.
These efforts are vital not only in reducing carbon emissions but also in gathering insightful data to aid the future evolution towards sustainable logistics.
“It's fantastic to see M&S add five zero-emission electric lorries to their fleet thanks to our US$242.87m investment in large zero-emission trucks,” says Lilian Greenwood, Future of Roads Minister for the UK government.
“The rollout is part of our commitment to support businesses and consumers in the transition to electric vehicles, making Britain a clean energy superpower.”
M&S' approach to sustainable R&D
This new venture builds on M&S's continuous investment into pioneering sustainability projects via its Plan A Accelerator Fund.
Prominent among recent initiatives are trials aimed at generating green hydrogen with power sourced from wind and solar installations on farms, exemplifying the retailer's dedication to innovating within the decarbonisation space.
The introduction of zero and lower-emission vehicles solidifies M&S's commitment to diminishing its environmental footprint while still ensuring the excellence of its operations.
The retailer is continuing to redefine the boundaries of possible outcomes in sustainable logistics, firmly establishing itself as a leader in the retail sector's march towards net zero.
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