Potato deliveries to Walkers Leicester Chips factory entirely powered by used cooking oil

In the United Kingdom, PepsiCo has scaled the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) – used cooking oil - across their supply chain in a move set to save 2,650 tonnes in GHG emissions annually. The transport of 240,000 tonnes potatoes each year from British farmers to their Leicester site is now entirely powered by used cooking oil, in partnership with AB Texel UK.

Introduction of used cooking oil as alternative fuel source for transport

The move follows PepsiCo’s introduction of the alternative fuel in 2022, for more than one and a half million kilometres of truck journeys moving product between their Quaker Oats mill in Cupar and their Leicester distribution centre. Every kilometre powered by HVO generates 80% less GHG emissions when compared with conventional diesel, reducing the impact of these journeys on the planet.

They're continuing to scale sustainable HVO fuel across the business, with plans to expand its use to their transport operations in Scotland later this year. This future expansion is expected to reduce GHG emissions by another 5,000 tonnes annually. By the end of 2023, they expect to be using HVO to power around 9 million kilometres of journeys across the UK.

The initiative forms part of PepsiCo Positive, their transformation programme which includes a goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2040.

Simon Devaney, Sustainability Director, PepsiCo UK & Ireland:
 

"We’re always looking for innovative ways to tackle their carbon footprint and the move to HVO for all their potato deliveries to Leicester, the home of Walkers, is a significant step. HVO fuel plays an important role in helping us to accelerate the decarbonisation of their transport activities."

New electric trucks deployed

This news builds on several lower-emissions logistics initiatives they recently announced including the two electric trucks, powered by freight mobility technology company Einride, which were deployed this week to transport product between their factories in Leicester and Coventry. They've also introduced new electric yard vehicles which will transport 40,000 pallets around the Leicester site.

Switching these journeys to electric will help us cut the distance travelled using fossil-powered trucks by over 400,000 kilometres annually and reduce the equivalent of more than 1,600 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the next three years.

Major investment in Walkers Leicester production site

Just this month, Pepsico UK also announced a GBP 58 million (USD 75 million) investment in their Leicester production site to create a new snacks manufacturing line and upgrade existing facilities. The investment will deliver several further sustainable innovations, including switching gas fired ovens to electric ones supplied by 100% renewable energy, to help cut 1,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.