Sainsbury’s to use biomethane from food waste for logistics

In the UK, Sainsbury’s is set to revolutionize its logistics to transform food waste into fuel for a number of its HGV trucks. From March, the pioneering initiative will see biofuel produced directly from Sainsbury’s food waste power 30 trucks at its Emerald Park distribution center, half the site’s fleet. This will save over 3,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to the yearly electricity consumption of 1,950 households. Waste processor RenECO currently works with Sainsbury’s to turn food waste that can’t be donated or used for animal feed into biogas via anaerobic digestion. This circular system will now use the output of this anaerobic digestion, the biogas, to create a liquid biofuel suitable for HGVs.
Unlike traditional methods that mix certified biomethane with non-renewable gases, this system ensures all fuel comes directly from Sainsbury’s waste. By working together, the retailer and supplier have shown how collaboration is key to unlocking new ways of reducing environmental impact.