Coca-Cola is partnering with Maritime Transport and GB Railfreight to deliver its soft drinks by rail rather than road between manufacturing locations and third-party warehouses in London and Yorkshire.
When fully operational, the switch will allow up to 18,000 loads of CCEP goods to be supplied by rail every day, lowering carbon emissions by roughly 50% compared to existing road operations.
The move represents a further step towards the business’ target of reducing carbon emissions across its value chain by 30% by 2030 and its overall ambition of reaching net zero by 2040.
It is Maritime’s first Domestic Distribution intermodal service, with 34’ x 45’ substantially modified containers being moved by rail six days a week, with Maritime’s distribution fleet making last mile deliveries to CCEP’s premises.
The switch will save over 4 million vehicle miles each year and save 15,000 truck journeys from some of the UK’s busiest routes.
‘As a business, we know that to reduce our overall carbon emissions, we need to work with our supply chain partners to continue making meaningful strides towards our business goals. The transition from road to rail forms an important part of our This is Forward sustainability strategy and our overall roadmap to net zero, and means we can continue to meet demand for our soft drinks in a way that is more beneficial to the environment.’ said Francisco Javier Sanchez Gandarias, Vice President Customer Service and Supply Chain at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Great Britain.
‘The launch of this dedicated service in partnership with CCEP underlines the flexibility and breadth of our business’ capabilities.’ added Alex Williams, Managing Director - Distribution, Maritime Transport.
.Our advancements in the distribution and rail freight sectors have enabled us to provide a truly networked, end-to-end logistical product to our customers, whilst our commitment to developing innovative solutions that allow more freight to be moved by rail is a great fit for CCEP, and means we are well-positioned to support their journey towards a net-zero future’ added Williams.
