As part of our Buy Into Retail campaign, we’re spotlighting the work retailers are doing when it comes to growth, people and sustainability. Today, we focus on the road to net-zero, and the way in which BRC member Tesco are leading the way when it comes to sustainable logistics.
Tesco is making significant strides in decarbonising its logistics operations, demonstrating how retailers can lead the transition to low-carbon transport. Two recent initiatives highlight this progress: the rollout of 42 biomethane-powered trucks and the milestone of its 1,000th electric home-delivery van.
At its Livingston distribution centre in Scotland, Tesco has introduced 42 new low-carbon trucks powered by biomethane, a renewable gas produced from food and agricultural waste. Serving over 250 stores across Scotland, Cumbria and Northumbria, these vehicles will each cover around 200,000 km annually and are expected to save more than 6,400 tonnes of CO₂e per year compared to diesel equivalents.
The trucks can cut emissions by up to 83%, offering a practical and immediate step towards cleaner transport while the wider industry prepares for electric heavy goods vehicles. Each unit also features a “Silent Mode” for quieter night-time deliveries. Tesco has partnered with CNG Fuels to install on-site biomethane refuelling facilities, ensuring efficiency and minimising downtime.
At the same time, Tesco has reached a major milestone in its last-mile delivery operations with the launch of its 1,000th electric home-delivery van. Based in Cardiff, the vehicle contributes to the retailer’s growing fleet of electric vans across the UK, part of Tesco’s ambition to operate a fully electric home-delivery fleet by 2030. The transition supports local air quality improvements and contributes to Tesco’s wider goal of achieving net zero operations by 2035.
Together, these two initiatives showcase a balanced approach to sustainability: using low-carbon technologies for heavy transport, while rapidly electrifying last-mile deliveries. They also highlight the importance of partnerships, from energy suppliers to logistics innovators, in building the infrastructure required to make low-carbon logistics viable at scale.
Tesco’s progress demonstrates how ambitious environmental commitments can be turned into tangible operational change. With measurable milestones, practical solutions and a clear roadmap to net zero, Tesco is helping set a new standard for sustainable retail logistics — showing that meaningful emissions reductions are achievable today while laying the groundwork for low-carbon fleets of tomorrow.
