Renewable diesel helps Woodland Group, Ball Corp. drive down supply-chain emissions

Woodland Group announced in mid-September that the company is demonstrating its commitment to supply-chain sustainability through pioneering trials of alternative fuels and electric-vehicle technologies in collaboration with Ball Corp., the world’s leading provider of sustainable aluminum packaging.

In March, Woodland Group embarked on a trial utilizing hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel, through its collaboration with Ball.

Over the past 10 weeks, the company has completed 1,100 trips on Ball’s regular routes using HVO fuel.

The emissions from these journeys were limited to just 22 metric tons of CO2-equivalent.

Had HVO not been used, according to Woodland Group’s advanced carbon calculator, these journeys would have resulted in 229 tons of CO2e.

The use of HVO led to a significant CO2e saving of 207 tons and a 90 percent reduction in these emissions.

Over the course of a 12-month period, Woodland Group and Ball project a reduction of 1,067 tons in CO2e emissions on this particular route alone and will be rolling out additional routes as part of their net-zero and carbon-neutrality goals.

In addition, Woodland Group and Ball have been actively exploring the potential of electric heavy-goods vehicles (EHGVs).

Introducing Volvo EHGVs to the fleet over a 30-day period yielded promising results, with nearly a 66 percent reduction in carbon footprint compared to traditional diesel vehicles.

While the current limitations of the U.K.’s electrical infrastructure pose challenges, Woodland Group remains committed to continuing trials with Ball and other manufacturers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the market and its potential.

“Woodland Group and Ball are dedicated to continuously reducing their carbon footprint and exploring new technologies in the logistics sector,” Woodland Group stated.

The trials have identified barriers as well as opportunities, and key findings include:

Diesel dominates the HGV market due to range and infrastructure but has much higher CO2 emissions per kilometer than EVs and HVO.

Electric vehicles (EVs) offer lower CO2 emissions per kilometer than diesel but are currently limited by range and grid decarbonization.

HVO is the most promising intermediate solution today, offering the best CO2 emissions per kilometer and compatibility with existing engines.

Hydrogen technology could be a potential long-term solution, and the two firms will continue to trial it going forward.

Woodland Group said 25 percent of its current fleet runs on HVO, and partnering with purpose-led organizations like Ball is an important step on the road to achieving decarbonization goals.

“It is a real pleasure to be working with Ball Corp. on these trials and exploring the best solutions, not only for our customers and their customers, but also for the environment,” said Luke Fermor, Woodland Group’s global head of fulfilment. “The key is to have a better understanding of emerging technologies and to ensure we invest in the right technology at the right time.”

Mark Haslam, Ball’s logistics director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, added, “We know that there’s not one single or one-size-fits-all solution to reduce fossil fuels. No single company can tackle the challenge alone—working together is crucial. That is why we are so delighted to trial new, innovative carbon-conscious solutions with Woodland. Ball’s commitment to sustainability outlined in the Climate Transition Plan is unwavering. We focus heavily on the decarbonization levers that exist within our value chain, particularly the opportunities to decarbonize the aluminum-manufacturing processes. We are proud of our partnership, forged in 2021, focused on pioneering solutions to reduce supply-chain emissions. We’ve achieved significant results with Woodland Group and look forward to reaching new milestones based on these trials.”