British Gypsum has made further progress towards its goal of being carbon neutral by 2050, thanks to the introduction of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuelled vehicles to its UK fleet.

This additional investment in low-emission vehicles reflects British Gypsum’s ongoing commitment to significantly reducing its impact on the environment, putting it on course to achieving its pledge of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

British Gypsum has started to convert its HGV fleet from diesel to HVO and is expected to use approximately 75000 litres of fuel per week. This means that around 40% of the company’s UK fleet will now operate on HVO fuel, with a further 10% using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The use of multi-fuelled vehicles at this scale is expected to reduce British Gypsum’s carbon emissions by approximately 70%, year on year.

To support the implementation of HVO vehicles, British Gypsum has made several upgrades to site infrastructure, including an HVO refuelling point in Robertsbridge and a new fuel island capable of delivering 110,000 litres a week at its Distribution Centre in Gotham.

HVO is an emerging ‘drop-in’ fuel replacement for diesel, and is manufactured at refineries from waste materials such as cooking oils and other waste streams that are not fit for human consumption. The British Gypsum vehicles are using Green D+ HVO, which is an EN15940 fuel – recognised by almost all major engine manufacturers as it leaves no carbon deposits, and also has a cleaning effect on engines. It’s becoming more ubiquitous due to its wealth of environmentally-friendly benefits, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%.1

To reach net zero in 2050, global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide need to fall by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030. In October 2021, more than a third of businesses across all industries reported taking at least one action to reduce emissions.2

Jag Gill, Supply Chain Director at British Gypsum, comments: “As a business we are keen to do all we can to contribute positively towards the environment, and the introduction of HVO and LNG-fuelled vehicles is just one way in which we are making a difference. Leaving a positive legacy and building better for future generations is a core component of British Gypsum’s company ethos, reflected in our pledge to achieve net zero carbon by 2050.

“As well as investing in low-emission alternative fuels, British Gypsum is also focused on reducing the carbon footprint of our buildings at each site. By working towards net zero buildings, evaluating the energy renovations of existing buildings, and incorporating greater use of in-situ renewables, together we can reduce our environmental impact and journey towards a greener future.”