Packaging company invests in first electric truck

Nicklin Transit Packaging has taken the next step in its decarbonisation journey by investing in its first electric articulated truck.

The acquisition of the Volvo FM Electric Globetrotter Cab from the Hartshorne Group is part of Birmingham-based Nicklin’s ongoing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and minimise the environmental impact of its products throughout their lifecycle.

Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) currently contribute 19% of domestic transport emissions in the UK, with fewer than 500 fully electric HGVs on the road out of an overall fleet of nearly 500,000.

Earlier this year, the firm opened a biomass plant at its Wednesbury headquarters, which has eliminated the need for natural gas heating and reduced haulage miles by burning 1,000 tonnes of timber waste that would have gone to landfill.

Nicklin CEO and owner David Nicklin said: “It is the responsibility of all businesses and industries to adopt greener practices for the sake of everybody’s future. Our aim is to provide our customers with the most sustainable possible solutions and this latest investment is an important next step along our journey towards becoming a carbon-neutral business in 2024 with a longer-term aspiration to become the UK’s first net zero pallet and packaging company.

“At the heart of our approach is circularity. We are using sustainable raw materials to design low-carbon products that are reusable, repairable and recyclable with any wood waste being reprocessed to fuel through our biomass boiler. Through starting to replace our fleet of trucks with electric vehicles, we are now able to ensure our products are also being delivered in the most efficient and environmentally sustainable way possible.”