Diageo road-tests HVO with Malcolm Group

Alcoholic drinks giant Diageo is trialling HVO fuel in partnership with Malcolm Group, in an exper­iment that could save up to 171 tonnes of greenhouse gas emis­sions a year.

The partnership will see 11 vehicles powered by renewable HVO biofuel operating into and out of Diageo Leven, Fife, the company’s largest packaging site globally. The initial trial will test the performance and reli­ability of the biofuel trucks and will run until the end of October. HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) is made from food waste, reduc­ing its net global warming gas emissions, and burns cleaner than ‘fossil’ diesel. Many mod­ern trucks can run on HVO with­out modification.

Malcolm Logistics runs up to 100 loads into and out of Leven every day, meaning the potential for significant carbon savings if the trial is successful.

Gavin Brogan, logistics direc­tor, global brands supply chain at Diageo, said: “At Diageo, we’re acutely aware of our re­sponsibility to lead the way in ex­ploring new technologies to min­imise climate harm and protect our environment. The biofuel tri­al with Malcolm’s is an exciting next step in our journey towards net zero, and if successful, could be a game-changer for reducing CO₂ emissions from our supply chain.

“Our Leven packaging site is making great strides in its sus­tainability initiatives, including the new solar panel array. It’s an exciting time for the business as we innovate with partners to find more sustainable ways of op­erating and I’m looking forward to seeing the outcomes of this trial.”