Fewer transport miles
The contribution of transport to the environmental impact of food production is frequently over-estimated and in most cases accounts for only a small percentage of total footprint.
But it does add directly to costs and also gives rise to a range of indirect effects, including traffic congestion. It is therefore a very clear example of where improved efficiency makes good business sense for everyone.
Our Commitment
To embed environmental standards in our members' food transport practices to
achieve fewer and friendlier food transport miles.
To contribute to the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) Efficient Consumer
Response (ECR) Sustainable Distribution Initiative.
Progress Made
Throughout the year members have continued to embed environmental standards in
their food transport practices, whether contracted out to third party hauliers
or
undertaken in
house, to achieve fewer and friendlier food transport miles. This is reflected
in many of the case studies in this report.
The FDF 10-point checklist for Greener Food Transport remains the cornerstone of
these efforts.
Following our review of the Five-fold Environment Ambition last year, we have
now included a quantifiable target in our transport ambition in the form of FDF
members making a
contribution to IGD's ECR Sustainable Distribution Initiative target to save a
cumulative 200 million HGV miles across the food and grocery sector over the
period 2007-12.
FDF members are encouraged to calculate their savings using a Road Miles Savings
Calculator provided on the IGD ECR website and submit this information to IGD.
Savings of 163
million miles for the period 2007-10 have so far been recorded by IGD based on
the efforts of manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers.
IGD is due to issue a further progress update in
early 2012.
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Last reviewed: 06 Dec 2011