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Freight transport can be difficult to address within supply chains, particularly where the freight operator is different from the supplier of the goods. This can make haulage providers more remote from the contracting public body and more difficult to influence directly.

In 2022, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and light goods vehicles (LGVs) produced 37.8 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, representing around one-third of all UK domestic transport emissions. This highlights the significant contribution of road freight to greenhouse gas emissions and the challenges associated with reducing them.

Emissions from HGVs and LGVs have remained relatively stable over the past 20 years, ranging from a low of 33.2 million tonnes in 2009 to a high of 38.9 million tonnes in 2021.

The The Freight Portal provides advice on reducing both costs and emissions. Through procurement decisions, public bodies can reduce the volume of goods purchased, lowering freight demand, and can include freight-related requirements within tenders and contracts. It is important to work closely with the sector, particularly as many haulage companies are small businesses operating on narrow margins.

Public bodies should require transparency from suppliers about freight activities to enable accurate assessment of supply chain emissions. This information should include:

  • Where products, components and materials originate.
  • The extent of shipping involved and the companies used.
  • The types of vehicles used for transport.

This information enables public bodies to identify the areas with the greatest emissions impact and target improvement measures effectively. Future tenders should consider including requirements that encourage innovative approaches to reducing freight emissions.

Public bodies can also reduce freight emissions, improve air quality and tackle congestion through local planning decisions, such as installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure, implementing low emission zones (LEZs), and reviewing parking or access permit arrangements.

  • Cargo bikes and electric cargo bikes, and zero-emission powered light vehicles (zePLVs), can provide effective last-mile delivery solutions, particularly in urban areas, helping to reduce both emissions and congestion.

    In rural areas, small battery electric vans can provide a practical alternative to larger diesel-powered vehicles. In both cases, freight consolidation centres can support the collection and consolidation of goods before delivery, helping to improve efficiency and reduce transport emissions.

  • There are solutions available to decarbonise most road freight vehicles now, with the most prominent being battery electric vehicles. Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles are still in development, and there is the possibility of low carbon fuels (though these are not zero-emission and should only be used as an interim solution).  

    For more information, see Adopt zero emission vehicles and Decarbonising road freight, servicing and deliveries: local authority toolkit – GOV.UK. 

  • Pricing can be used to encourage changes in behaviour. For example, pricing for last-mile deliveries, based on the time and location of delivery, can encourage deliveries to take place during off-peak periods, helping to reduce congestion.

    Similarly, pricing can be used to discourage rapid delivery services. Longer delivery times can improve operational efficiency by allowing goods to be consolidated and deliveries to be planned more effectively.

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10.1. Why and how to address supply chain emissions
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10.3. Case studies