One of the biggest steps we’re taking is our investment in solar power at our head office and warehouse facilities.The project is being delivered in phases, with solar panels initially installed across half of the available roof space. The first day of generation produced more power than we used, giving us an encouraging indication of what the system can achieve.The next stage will depend on improvements in battery storage technology. We want to be able to store the energy generated during the day and use it when it’s needed, including for charging electric vehicles and forklift trucks.Once the technology becomes more accessible and cost-effective, our ambition is to complete the installation across the remaining roof space.Ultimately, we want our head office to generate enough renewable electricity to power our offices and warehouses, charge our electric forklift fleet and support the electric vehicles we bring onto the fleet, with the potential to put excess energy back into the grid during the summer months.

The transition to electric isn’t as simple when it comes to long-distance freight.At present, electric HGV technology doesn’t provide the range we need for our longer-distance operations, while charging infrastructure and the cost of the vehicles also remain significant considerations.Rather than making a change that doesn’t work operationally, we’re taking a practical approach.Two new rigid Volvo electric vehicles are planned for our fleet later this year. These will be used for local work as part of our Pallet-Track operation around Leeds, where their expected range makes them a suitable option.For our longer-distance fleet, we’re continuing to invest in some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles available. Over the past two years, we’ve moved towards the Volvo FH Aero, which provides an improvement of more than 1 MPG.When you consider the number of miles covered by our fleet, even a relatively small improvement in fuel efficiency can make a significant difference to both fuel consumption and carbon emissions.For us, this is an important part of sustainability: making improvements that work at the scale we operate.

For us, sustainability isn’t a standalone initiative. It is becoming an important part of how we plan for the future of JODA Freight.Many of our customers are actively looking for more sustainable supply chain partners, and we believe businesses across the logistics industry will need to continue adapting to meet those expectations.We don’t believe sustainable growth and commercial growth are separate goals. In fact, we believe investment in reducing our environmental impact will be increasingly important to our ability to grow.Our plans over the next few years will continue to focus on practical improvements that make sense for our operations, our customers and our people.There are also opportunities to consolidate our warehouse estate in the future. If we move towards operating from our head office and one larger warehouse, we’ll look at the potential to introduce solar generation at the additional site too.