What is the Logistics Pathway?

Logistics is the vital link between raw material production, manufacturing, retailers and customers. Transport and storage facilities deliver products safely and efficiently to the UK market from global supply chains, with movements of goods conducted by road, rail, sea and air. Efficient logistics networks are key to successful retail operations.

The movement of high volumes of goods also presents a significant climate impact. Emissions from transportation are significant in aggregate and highly visible to customers, so there is keen interest from society at large over how the climate impact for moving goods can - and should - be tackled.

Decarbonistion will require logistics data and the adoption of zero and low carbon fuels. ‘Last-mile’ delivery to customers will increasingly transition away from heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) reliant on fossil fuels, to high performance electric vehicles and other low-carbon transport. 

Retailers and fleet operators are making decisions in the next few years about the vehicles that will be operating in 2030 and beyond. This is why it’s so important to make sure that green fuel options are not only available, but invested in. Government has a key part to play, not just in encouraging the take up of these technologies, but also in supporting further research and development in this area.

Peter Andrews British Retail Consortium

Logistics Pathway Guidance

Read the Logistics pathway guidance for context, insights, case studies, key sector initiatives, actions for the retail industry, and priorities for government and BRC support.

Logistics Pathway Milestones Summary

2025

  • Advanced fuel efficiency programmes for retailer fleet and drivers.
  • Collection of greenhouse gas performance data from logistics providers, to inform decision making.

2030

  • Network/route sharing for optimized efficiency.
  • 100% zero carbon retailer LCVs.

2035

  • 100% zero carbon last mile logistics.
  • 100% zero carbon HGVs.

Logistics Pathway Actions Summary

For Retailers

Short term priorities

  • Optimise fuel efficiency of existing HGV operations.
  • Use KPIs that accurately track greenhouse gas performance.
  • Make greenhouse gas performance a parameter in logistics
    procurement.
  • Ensure good practice measures have been implemented by freight operators.
  • Use lower carbon liquid fuels.
  • Start to incorporate EVs for small and mid-size delivery vehicles.
  • Consider logistics network and route sharing.

Longer term transformations

  • Engage proactively with the logistics industry to support the
    development, piloting and implementation of solutions across economic sectors.
  • Coordinate approaches to bring scale to investments and help speed transformations.
  • Support the development of the appropriate infrastructure.
  • Integrate decarbonisation into logistics asset investment decision making.
  • Pursue advances in technological solutions.

For Government

  • Take further measures to enable near-term HGV emissions reductions.
  • Set a clear direction to accelerate deployment of zero carbon HGVs for UK market, including significant research and development investment.
  • Provide support for more rapid uptake of the electrification of LCVs, including for the charging infrastructure.

For BRC

  • Support the industry to identify and adopt preferential solutions to rapidly decarbonise HGVs.
  • Facilitate progress on logistics network and route sharing.

Contact our programme manager

  • Tracey Banks

    Climate Action Programme Manager | BRC

    Tracey leads our work under the Climate Action Roadmap, coordinates signatories’ work under each pathway and engagement with the key partners. 

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