In keeping with the NHS’ objectives to significantly improve its climate impact, NHS Supply Chain is working with its logistics provider to expand the size of its sustainable vehicle fleet across the UK.
The objective is to create a long-term carbon neutral fleet, with the new environmentally-friendly vehicles offering the lowest level of carbon emissions to date.
These are being rolled out for dedicated use within NHS Supply Chain.
They will add to the overall NHS Supply Chain fleet, which operates a 200-strong final mile fleet delivering to NHS trusts across the country.
Operating with lower emissions, which allow for a CO2 reduction of 2.1 tonnes per vehicle per year, the new fleet will help the NHS organisation meet its green targets.
The vehicles’ engines have equally been made HVO ready and can be run on Hydro-treated vegetable oil.
Further ensuring a low carbon impact from the new fleet, NHS Supply Chain and their logistics partner, Unipart Logistics, have ensured a significant proportion of the manufacturing of the fleet has been undertaken in the UK.
Claire Salmon, Category Tower Director (Logistics) at NHS Supply Chain, said: ““We are delighted to introduce our new sustainable fleet of vehicles which are delivering to NHS trusts.
“We are evolving our entire fleet as part of our sustainability and carbon reduction commitments within Unipart, and as a provider to the NHS Supply Chain.
“The additional benefits of increasing fuel efficiency and having an HVO ready fleet, as well as introducing other safety specifications as standard truly demonstrates the ‘delivering value to the NHS’ brand on the fleet is more than just a logo.”
Andrew New, CEO of NHS Supply Chain, added: “As NHS Supply Chain, we are trusted by our stakeholders to deliver clinically assured, value for money products that meet the needs of our NHS colleagues and patients.
“We deliver a critical service every day to the NHS, and we have a responsibility to deliver this sustainably and with the upmost consideration to the impact on the environment. These new fleet of vehicles is a small part of our overall plan to support the NHS mission to be carbon neutral by 2040.
“Working with our suppliers, service providers and trusts is critical to optimising our impact both today and for the future.”
*Pictured: Andrew New, CEO, NHS Supply Chain
