Major strides in UK green logistics: key freight decarbonisation updates

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The UK logistics and freight sector is witnessing impactful progress this winter, as operators across functions deploy electric vehicles (EVs), invest in infrastructure, and green up supplies.

In a recent push, Universal Courier Logistical Services (UCLS) has added 33 new Renault Trucks E‑Tech Master panel vans to its fleet. This multimillion‑pound investment boosts its electric fleet to 48 vehicles and supports zero‑emission home delivery across the North of England, covering Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds substantiating its sustainability strategy on 4 December 2025.

At national scale, Royal Mail has initiated rollout of eight DAF 42‑tonne XD 350E electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs) this December. These operate between its Midlands and North West parcel hubs on ABB high‑performance fast chargers, saving about 1,000 tonnes of carbon annually and lowering operating costs. This marks a key milestone in its path to net zero by 2040. The project also involves Electric Freightway’s network of super‑fast chargers, backed by over £100 million in investment including UK Government support and Innovate UK, delivering infrastructure for eHGVs nationwide.

Wincanton, a major supply chain firm, has welcomed 24 electric trucks into service in June 2025. This addition is expected to cut its CO₂ emissions by about 2,400 tonnes annually, and is supported by depot charging infrastructure installed at key sites such as Greenford, Portbury, Scotland Gateway Hub near Glasgow, and Northamptonshire’s WEB site. The move aligns with its ambition to reach net zero by 2040 and is part of the ZEHID programme, in collaboration with Innovate UK and the Department for Transport under the Electric Freightway and eFREIGHT 2030 consortia.

In retail logistics, Marks & Spencer has introduced 85 zero or lower emission vehicles into its supply chain logistics fleet in early 2025. This includes five battery electric HGVs serving London and the South East, alongside 30 biomethane‑powered compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles from mid‑September. These initiatives underpin M&S’s Plan A Net Zero by 2040 and position nearly 10 percent of its transport fleet on low or zero‑emission technologies.

Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s is trialling a biofuel system powered directly by its own food waste at its Emerald Park distribution centre. From March 2025, 30 HGVs will be fuelled with liquid biofuel derived from onsite anaerobic digestion, expected to cut around 3,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually equivalent to the energy use of nearly 2,000 UK households.

What this means:

These developments illustrate a maturing landscape in UK freight decarbonisation, with electric trucks becoming viable at scale and supported by accompanying charging infrastructure. Urban and regional delivery providers, national carriers, major retailers, and supply chain operators are deploying a diverse mix of solutions from electric panel vans to heavy electric trucks and biofuel‑powered HGVs.

Royal Mail and Wincanton underline that fleet transformation must be complemented by investment in charging networks, logistics hubs and collaborative infrastructure programmes.

Retailers like M&S and Sainsbury’s demonstrate that decarbonisation strategies need not rely solely on electrification; renewable biomethane and bespoke biofuels from waste sources can play a critical role.

Together, these initiatives contribute to reducing emissions across operational scales and transport segments. They highlight that industry-wide engagement from last‑mile delivery to heavy freight logistics is delivering measurable emission savings now.

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