DPD took this year's IOC National Courier Award win for green with its thirty electric towns and cities by 2023. This week DPD make the next step in green by replacing all their HGV diesel by 2023.

Justin Pegg, Chief Operating Officer at DPD commented,

This is a very significant step in the journey to decarbonising our entire fleet and achieving our aim of being the most sustainable parcel delivery company in the UK. While we are well on the way to electrifying our delivery van fleet, the HGV linehaul fleet has always been a very different challenge. We have assessed a range of options and it is clear now that this is the most effective and practical way to make a real difference. While there may be different solutions in years to come, we must start this process now by making our existing vehicles significantly cleaner.

DPD has announced that it is to switch its entire diesel HGV fleet to Gd+ HVO, an advanced hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel, in conjunction with integrated energy provider, Essar and Green Biofuels Ltd.

Gd+ HVO is a direct drop-in replacement for diesel, developed by Green Biofuels Ltd and is defined as renewable and sustainable under the EU's REDII legislation. It is the lowest-emission diesel replacement fuel available made from renewable feedstocks, and contains a specifically designed performance additive to ensure cleanliness and optimum combustion throughout the fuel system.

Gd+ HVO can be used in any diesel engine without the need for modifications or capital expenditure. It is approved by vehicle manufacturers, and there is no degradation in performance.

By using Gd+ HVO fuel, operators of diesel engines typically save lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 90%1, and consequently help improve local air quality2. In-field and controlled environment-independent tests have shown that compared to standard diesel emissions, Gd+ HVO achieves up to 80% reductions of particulates and up to 20% reductions of nitrogen oxides emissions.3

DPD will begin switching its 1,600 strong HGV fleet to Gd+ HVO immediately, and following a four-month trial, the company aims to convert 60% of its vehicles within 2022 - reducing emissions by 70,282 tonnes compared to 2021. The remaining vehicles will switch by the end of 2023. Gd+ HVO will be delivered directly to DPD's onsite tanks nationwide by existing bulk fuel supplier Essar.

Carlos Rojas, Head of Marketing & Logistics at Essar, said:

Essar is committed to playing a leading role in the decarbonisation of the UK economy and manufacturing the fuels of the future in a lower carbon way. As a key partner of choice, we have worked seamlessly to provide integrated energy, infrastructure, and logistical solutions to DPD nationally for over ten years and are proud to be its strategic supply partner as it decarbonises its fleet.

William Tebbit, CEO and Co-Founder of Green Biofuels, said:

We are delighted to be working with Essar and DPD. Our mission is to support the net-zero energy transition by providing a solution that that makes an immediate impact on local air quality, lowers CO2 emissions, and supports decarbonisation. The challenges faced by DPD are typical of most large fleets in the UK; however, Gd+ HVO provides results with no additional costs of transforming the engines. Green Biofuels offers the most effective solution available today - it is an essential ingredient for the transition to an environmentally friendly world fuelled by 100% renewable energy.

Details on all of DPD's sustainability initiatives can be found on its dedicated DPD green website and include plans to have over 3,000 electric vehicles on the road in the UK this year and a total of 4,000 by 2023, delivering to 30 towns and cities on all-electric vehicles only.