Page 13 Climate change


Transport
John Lewis' commercial vehicles travelled 19.7 million miles in 2007/08, an increase of 12% that reflects our johnlewis.com business being brought in-house.
Through transport consolidation, where a preferred haulier collects from a number of suppliers before delivering to one of our six Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs), we are reducing our total mileage, ensuring greater load efficiency and providing a more viable option for suppliers dealing in small volumes. Using otherwise empty vehicles on outward or return journeys (known as back- and forward-hauling) saved the company 665,415 miles.

All our vehicles currently meet the Euro 3 engine requirements of London's Low Emission Zones (LEZs), and we expect to meet the need for Euro 4 engines, which we began trialling in 2005, ahead of the 2012 deadline. We will also equip our lorries with the latest Euro 5 engines whenever possible.

Commercial miles driven per £m sales
(Horizontal bar chart with the following figures:)
2003/04 6,706
2004/05 7,210
2005/06 6,629
2006/07 6,578
2007/08 7,008

Avoided mileage from back and forward-hauling miles
(Horizontal bar chart with the following figures:)
2003/04 380,954
2004/05 493,938
2005/06 Data unavailable
2006/07 686,795
2007/08 665,415

Fuelling the debate
The Partnership's transport operation is its second largest contributor of CO2 emissions, after energy, so we have investigated many alternative, lower-carbon fuels. In our latest trial, the John Lewis RDC in Northampton has begun a trial which will see waste cooking oil converted into biodiesel for use in branch vehicles.

However, doubts about the effect that biofuels have on food prices, food stocks and the environment persist, so in the absence of absolute assurances over sourcing and sustainability, we only use the amount of biodiesel required by law (currently 2.5%) under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).The RTFO came into force in April 2008; since then, we have received our normal bulk diesel with a 5% blend of biodiesel. This percentage is because most fuel suppliers cannot blend a 2.5% mix for petrol and have to make up the shortfall by doubling the content in diesel.


Green machines
To send a clear signal to the commercial vehicle industry that we are keen to cut the carbon footprint of our vehicles by at least 20%, and so reduce the impact of road haulage on the environment, Partnership Chairman Charlie Mayfield has set commercial vehicle manufacturers a challenge: develop prototype eco-vans and low carbon vehicles for us to trial.

The project, which could involve electric or hybrid electric vehicles or high bio-content fuels made from renewable sources such as biomethane from waste, is being run jointly with Cenex, the UK's national Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies.

Further information
> www.climatecare.org Carbon offsetting
> www.carbontrust.co.uk Carbon footprinting and reduction
> www.direct.gov.uk/actonco2 calculate your carbon footprint
> www.cpi.cam.ac.uk/bep/clgcc Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change
> www.brc.org.uk British Retail Consortium
> www.bsigroup.com/PAS2050 BSI's PAS 2050 standard