Speedy is fuelling its delivery fleet with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) helping it to save the equivalent of 5,000 tonnes of CO2 over the next 12 months.

Speedy will use Green D+ enhanced HVO as its preferred fuel, which also removes 11% of Nitrogen Oxide emissions and is 20% lower in particulates than standard HVO.

The fuel is being used across the company’s delivery fleet, including heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and tankers, at 21 of its biggest locations across the country, representing 92% of the company’s HGV fleet.

Mike DeRome, head of fuel at Speedy, said: “Our fuel usage comprises the largest part of the business’ carbon footprint, making it a priority area for us to take action.

“Reducing emissions in our delivery fleet helps customers to make big gains in decarbonising their supply chain, reducing the overall carbon footprint of their projects.”

The switch to HVO fuel across its commercial fleet also helps the business to instantly reduce carbon emissions without “wastefully retiring” diesel powered assets early in favour of new vehicles, particularly while electric and hydrogen technologies continue to advance and mature, he added.

The company is also reviewing how staff vehicles can refuel with HVO at Speedy sites to help further reduce its overall emissions.

The switch is part of a wider rollout of HVO across the business, which has already seen Speedy’s Powered Access division move to refuelling all machinery with HVO as standard. Its power division is also set to make the swap before the end of the year.

Speedy is a provider of tools, equipment and plant hire services to a wide range of customers in the construction, infrastructure and industrial markets, as well as to local trade and consumers. It operates from 200 sites across the UK and Ireland.