CFS: driving a low-carbon AdBlue agenda

By Categories: Commercial NewsPublished On: Thursday 23 May 2024

Commercial Fuel Solutions (CFS) has outlined its perspective on the economic and environmental benefits for fleets of investing in low-carbon AdBlue solutions.

“With the transition to EV having slowed down… this brings a renewed focus onto diesel and handling the fluids necessary to operate an ICE fleet effectively and with the lowest environmental impact,” said Robin Futcher, managing director at Commercial Fuel Solutions.

“Today’s modern diesel engines are fantastic feats of engineering – so finely tuned, they can extract maximum energy from every drop of fuel with minimum emissions.

“Those fitted with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems, which utilise AdBlue to convert harmful nitrogen oxide emissions in diesel engine exhaust into benign nitrogen and water, are widely regarded as the best of the best.

“AdBlue has been instrumental in massively reducing the NOx from modern diesel vehicles, but the overall environmental impact can be reduced further with the right manufacturing, transport and delivery systems to eliminate unnecessary waste, reduce CO2 emissions and improve operational efficiency.”

Carbon footprint is a much-used term in many contexts, but in the transport industry it is only going to become more important, says Robin, as companies are obliged to or preferably even choose to look at their CO2 emissions throughout the supply chain.

“In the context of AdBlue, the carbon emissions come from the manufacturing process, the transport and the delivery method,” he continued.

“This is where Commercial Fuel Solutions can help fleet owners significantly reduce their carbon footprint whilst reducing waste and streamlining the whole process.

“For the last 15 years my team and I have been setting the benchmarks in environmental stewardship and innovative fuel solutions.  We are renowned in the industry for our technical expertise and reliable nationwide supply of AdBlue.

“We have taken great strides in reducing its carbon footprint through pioneering packaging solutions designed to significantly cut down on the use of virgin plastics and bulk delivery options.”

As managing director at Commercial Fuel Solutions, Robin says he and his team emphasise the traditional advantage of bulk storage tanks in carbon efficiency, acknowledging that while they represent a substantial upfront investment, they are less viable for smaller operations that depend on drums and intermediate bulk containers (IBCs).

“Addressing this, our company has innovated to enhance the sustainability of these smaller containers,” he continued.

“One notable initiative is the transition of all AdBlue drum products to containers that are not only fully recyclable but also include 30 per cent recycled material. This shift is projected to reduce the carbon impact by 3.8 kg per drum, with the company aiming to prevent over four tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions by year-end.

“Furthermore, an improved IBC supply process now includes a ‘fair wear and tear’ policy, replacing the internal bottle of IBCs at no extra cost, cutting carbon impact by 97.5 kg CO2e per container lifecycle.”

Commercial Fuel Solutions also cites its success in the supply of AdBlue through bulk consignments. Its partnership with AdBlue manufacturer Yara ensures product quality that meets ISO 22241 standards, says Robin, with rigorous testing and full traceability throughout the supply chain.

“The company boasts an extensive delivery network across the UK and Ireland, with 24 dedicated tankers operating out of five regional distribution centres. This setup facilitates rapid delivery and offers competitive rates for bulk purchases.

“The combination of bulk delivery options and sustainable packaging innovations not only underscores Commercial Fuel Solutions’ commitment to environmental sustainability but also offers significant cost and time savings for customers.

“By investing in bulk storage tanks or embracing the new low-carbon packaging solutions, businesses can not only reduce their carbon footprint but also enhance their operational efficiencies which can only improve the bottom line.

“With these advancements, Commercial Fuel Solutions continues to lead the way in the AdBlue market, demonstrating that environmental responsibility and business efficiency can go hand in hand.”

www.commercialfuelsolutions.co.uk