Fewer lorries on the roads

With careful scheduling and optimised loads, ICA can make its deliveries using fewer, more efficiently loaded lorries, resulting in less driving overall. ICA Sweden is continually taking over transportation from its suppliers, thereby streamlining transport planning and reducing total carbon dioxide emissions in the community, since fewer lorries are on the road. ICA Sweden does not currently own any lorries, while Rimi Baltic have their own lorries and also lease lorries.

ICA’s total fuel consumption is reducing

Modern engine technology, alternative fuels and increased eco-driving are also reducing emissions. In Sweden, alternative fuels are blended with diesel and the lorries are equipped with tyres with low rolling resistance to reduce fuel consumption and environmental impact. Fuel consumption fell by around 10% in 2013 compared with 2012. The largest reduction was in Sweden and is partly due to the fact that all the transport contractors in Sweden report their actual transport data (not all of this was calculated previously) and to certain improvements made by the contractors, such as more eco-driving.

On our way to fossil-free transport

ICA’s aim is to be the sector leader and actively take responsibility for advancing fuel development. In the long term, we want all our goods to be able to be transported without using fossil fuels. ICA is therefore working on developments on several fronts:

• One example is new systems for transport optimisation. Fewer kilometres travelled means reduced emissions. With tools like GPS it is possible to record trips extremely accurately, which in turn helps transport planners to find ways of optimising routes further.
• ICA is also following the development of Blue Corridors. This is a European partnership project to establish methane (LNG) as an alternative fuel to diesel for medium and long distance transport routes. Four Blue Corridors have been drawn along important roads to link south, north, west and east Europe. LNG refuelling points are being set up along these corridors. The idea is to make LNG a complementary fuel, but for it to replace diesel over time. The project is being financed by the Seventh Framework Programme, which co¬ordinates all EU-funded research initiatives in this area.

Charging stations at ICA stores

In 2010 ICA Sweden began installing charging stations in the car parks outside ICA stores for customers with electric vehicles. The goal is to have stations at about 20 ICA stores around the country within five years. At present electric vehicles can be charged at 15 ICA stores.

Facts
The logistics function within ICA Sweden was awarded the 2013 Pegasus Prize for environmental initiatives in the transport sector. ICA has been working actively for several years to find new environmentally appropriate fuels for transport. A pilot project involving 12 vehicles has shown that methane diesel is currently the most sustainable alternative. From spring 2014 onwards the number of methane diesel vehicles transporting goods for ICA will be increased.