Sainsbury’s launch fleet of food waste-powered delivery trucks

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FOOD logistics trucks for Sainsbury’s will soon be powered by the company’s own food waste in an innovative scheme to build a circular supply chain.

Biofuel will be pumped into 30 of Sainsbury’s heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) at the Emerald Park distribution centre in Bristol, UK, representing half of its fleet at the site.

The company says the move will save more than 3,000 t/a of CO2 emissions, part of its goal to meet net zero by 2035.

In the last five years, Sainsbury’s has more than halved its CO2 emissions, from 949,744 t/y in 2019 to 458,973 t/y in 2024.

Non-traditional fuel

The company is working with UK waste-to-energy firm RenECO to convert food that cannot be donated or used for animal feed to biogas via anaerobic digestion. This biogas will be turned into liquid biofuel suitable for HGVs.

The company says that unlike traditional biofuel mixing methods, which use a mixture of certified biomethane with non-renewable gas, RenECO’s process will ensure 100% of the fuel is produced using Sainsbury’s food waste.

Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s chief property and procurement officer, said: “We are proud to have worked closely with our supplier RenECO to deliver a pioneering move that supports our commitment to circularity and helps us to take a further step towards becoming net zero across our operations by 2035.”

Green plan

The initiative is part of Sainsbury's Plan for Better scheme, which aims to reduce its carbon footprint across the supply chain, including production, manufacturing, and logistics.

Last year, the company opened its eighth windfarm in Scotland, which it expects to produce around 92,000 MWh/y of electricity. Since 2022, Sainsbury’s has operated with 100% renewable electricity.