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Quaker is to use an electric train to transport porridge oats from its factory in Cupar, Scotland, to its storage depot in Lutterworth, Leicestershire.
Quaker, part of PepsiCo, expects to cut the overall number of road miles travelled by its fleet transport by over 300,000 miles per year, saving more than 180 tonnes of CO2 annually.
In addition to reducing road miles, the electric train will help PepsiCo move closer to achieving its goal of using 100 per cent renewable energy at its manufacturing and distribution sites within 15 years. The train will also increase productivity, enabling greater volumes to be transported than by lorry.
Walter Todd, vice president operations at PepsiCo UK, said: “This initiative not only improves productivity and reduces costs, it also serves our commitment to cutting carbon emissions and becoming a more environmentally sustainable business.”
PepsiCo is exploring further possibilities for expanding the use of electric train throughout its businesses. Initiatives include:
* Quaker and Walkers, which is also part of PepsiCo, are working together to eliminate empty running routes. After delivering crisps to Fife, Walkers lorries transport Quaker products instead of making the return journey empty.
* PepsiCo is working with retailers to identify mutual transport routes and eliminate empty running routes for both parties. This has resulted in the elimination of around 700,000 miles per year.
* Walkers has integrated two thirds of its British potato cargo into its in-house fleet. Walkers designed a special trailer capable of simultaneously carrying bulk raw materials and finished product, enabling the fleet to make deliveries to retailers en route to the farm. This saves just under 300,000 miles per year.
