The UK’s biggest retailer Tesco has announced that three quarters of its distribution fleet will run on ‘greener’ biodiesel from next month.
The B50 blend is a mixture of 50 per cent ordinary diesel mixed with biofuel.
Biofuels are renewable fuels produced from agricultural crops and blended with standard diesel or petrol to deliver a reduction in emissions .
Estimations at the company have shown a likely cut in its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70,000 tonnes a year, which is the equivalent to filling the Royal Albert Hall 400 times or 15,000 swimming pools .
Tesco said it had already ensured biofuel blends were stocked on its petrol forecourts, resulting in the reduction of a similar level of carbon dioxide emissions to the distribution proposal.
The supermarket giant currently transports goods through 2,000 lorries responsible to 754 stores and a further 716 smaller Express outlets .
Tesco Chief Executive of the company, Sir Terry Leahy described the move as an ‘extraordinary change’ for the supermarket giant.
The move follows a recently opened supermarket which features wind turbines to power the checkouts and rainwater to wash the home delivery vans .
The eco friendly store in Wick, north Scotland, is expected to cut the carbon footprint left by other supermarkets by 50 per cent.
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