Aluminium façade and fenestration systems supplier Schüco, has announced its latest environmental initiative: converting its entire fleet of diesel-powered haulage vehicles to operate on sustainably sourced Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel.
The company anticipates that this move will save over 380 tonnes of carbon emissions in the next 12 months alone, based on its average mileage.
As part of the transition, Schüco has installed an HVO tank with a capacity of 19,000 litres at its Milton Keynes site, home to its UK warehouse, to ensure ample storage for the company’s fuel needs. The HVO fuel supplier is an approved Renewable Fuel Supplier under the Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme (RFAS) and is International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) accredited.
Schüco has also incorporated a Tecalemit fuel management system to allow an auditable trace of fuel drawn from the tank, for precise tracking of HVO fuel usage.
The switch to HVO comes with many sustainability benefits. HVO is made from renewable raw materials such as vegetable oils and animal fats which reduces dependency on finite resources such as fossil fuels and supports a more circular economy.
HVO is compatible with existing diesel engines, allowing for an easy and immediate switch without the need for additional infrastructure or engine modifications. It has a high cetane number, which can lead to better engine performance, improved combustion, and increased efficiency. It often burns cleaner than regular diesel, potentially leading to reduced engine maintenance and longer engine life due to fewer deposits and cleaner combustion.
Schüco researched various fuel options, deciding on HVO with its good storage stability for extended periods without degradation, unlike some other biofuels. Despite the higher cost of HVO compared to regular diesel, Schüco anticipates that as HVO becomes more widely available across the country, prices will decrease.
By integrating HVO into its operations, Schüco not only enhances its own sustainability goals but also helps to set a precedent in the industry for responsible and eco-friendly practices. Schüco began tracking the carbon emissions associated with their energy use and business travel in 2021. In the two years since, the initiatives they have implemented enabled them to reduce their total emissions by 28%.
