As warehouses work hard to make sure increased demand for deliveries is met, materials handling businesses need to balance this increase with operating more sustainably and reducing their environmental impact. For many materials handling operators, not only does this mean looking at lowering emissions of road transport, but also off-road machinery such as forklift trucks. Stuart Viney, National Account Manager for FLTs at Calor explains how Calor Futuria Liquid Gas is delivering on these objectives.
The UK’s ambitious net zero carbon target has brought into focus the need to make changes to reduce our carbon footprint. But for many businesses, remaining cost-effective and operationally efficient in such a competitive sector proves to be a challenge.
For operating warehouses, there are several factors to consider. A significant amount of energy consumption comes from lighting, heating, cooling and air condition, as well as fixed and mobile material handling equipment which induces considerable carbon dioxide emissions.
Forklifts, for example, are essential for ensuring warehouse operations run as smoothly as possible, but not all of them are sustainably powered. Diesel machines, offer a powerful solution, which is especially suited for outdoor applications, but emit high, harmful emissions.
In fact, our report (Lowering the carbon emissions of forklift trucks: An industry survey report) found that 95% of FLT fleet operators felt that much more can be done to lower their carbon emissions. So, as advancements in technology continue, swapping to a more sustainable alternative is a good first step when looking to make a start on reducing your carbon footprint.
The challenges with lowering emissions
Although 54% of those surveyed in our report recognised that carbon reduction is a very important consideration when choosing how their FLT fleets should be fuelled, the truth is, this has to be juggled with other operational and commercial priorities.
There is now added pressure to keep the supply chain process efficient, to keep up with the pace and demand of delivery, particularly in the era of the e-commerce boom during and post pandemic.
So, when it comes to powering FLTs and fuel selection, the top aspects operational teams consider are; cost, fuel efficiency, minimising downtime, security of supply, and level of customer service from the fuel provider.
The replacement, therefore, needs to consider all these aspects to ensure operations do not take a hit when trying to achieve carbon reductions.
Introducing Calor Futuria Liquid Gas
One effective way FLT managers can improve sustainability is to consider alternative fuels. Calor Futuria Liquid Gas (previously BioLPG) is a sustainable fuel made from a blend of waste, residues, and sustainably sourced materials. It is also available at no extra cost to standard Calor LPG customers, FLT businesses looking to make the switch to Futuria Liquid Gas can ensure cost efficiencies are maximised too.
In addition, Futuria Liquid Gas brings impressive carbon reductions when compared to diesel and conventional LPG. Using a mix of 40% Futuria Liquid Gas and 60% conventional LPG, businesses can reduce carbon emissions by up to 48% (kgCO2e/kWh) compared to using diesel and 33% when compared to conventional LPG. In addition, FLT fleets currently using diesel as a fuel, can also reduce particulate matter by up to 98%, by switching to Futuria Liquid Gas.
The good news is that for those businesses already running LPG FLTs with a different supplier, switching to Calor Futuria Liquid Gas involves minimal additional investment because it is chemically identical to LPG. Most existing infrastructure, such as your FLT fleet, does not need to be upgraded or replaced. You will simply need to replace your current LPG tank to a Calor one.
Where performance is important, FLTs fuelled by Futuria Liquid Gas have superior travel speeds, rate of acceleration and lift speeds to electric counterparts. Futuria Liquid Gas fuelled FLTs can also perform consistently outdoors, including in colder climates and are reliable when it comes to refuelling, which only takes a few minutes, after which the FLT can return to full operation – allowing efficiency to keep up with operational demand.
Proving the case with Futuria Liquid Gas
In an era where supply chains and business processes are becoming more complex, being able to calculate carbon reductions made in a trustworthy way cannot be underestimated.
Calor works with the Green Gas Certification Scheme (GGCS), meaning companies using Futuria Liquid Gas to power their forklift trucks can access certificates of their Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin (RGGO), which can then be used when reporting on overall sustainability objectives of the business.
Opting for a supplier that offers a robust means of tracking the origin of sustainable gas through the supply chain not only provides end users with a robust way of proving their carbon reductions, but also enables businesses to demonstrate to their own clients, with confidence, that they are taking action on building a more sustainable future.
The Futuria with Calor
As part of its commitment to offer its customers 100% sustainable energy solutions by 2040, Calor is taking steps to encourage the switch of all its FLT customers over to its Calor Futuria Liquid Gas tariff, and with industry collaboration and government backing, the use of sustainable fuels to power FLTs can play a greater part in achieving the net zero carbon target.
To find out how Calor can help you reach sustainability targets with Calor Futuria Liquid Gas, visit www.calor.co.uk/flt. To find out more about the Green Gas Certification Scheme, visit www.greengas.org.uk.
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