MS Dearman truck web

The M&S Dearman truck with its  liquid nitrogen pack

M&S is rolling out zero-emissions delivery lorries nationwide in a bid to cut its carbon footprint from its chilled food deliveries.

The retailer has partnered with Dearman to roll out its liquid nitrogen-powered, zero-emission lorries across its nationwide delivery network from its Hemel Hempstead depot.

M&S has leased Dearman’s dual compartment transport refrigeration units (TRUs). The technology the vehicles use will replace M&S’ diesel-powered secondary engines. Compared with traditional diesel-powered TRUs, Dearman’s system can potentially reduce CO2 emissions by up to 95%.

This move is part of M&S’ Plan A 2025, launched in June last year, which includes striving to cut its carbon emissions by 90% compared with its 2006 level.

M&S has historically been a front-running retailer when it comes to using liquid-nitrogen TRUs. Its last 10-year sustainability plan, for example, saw it become the world’s first and only carbon neutral major retailer. M&S also used hundreds of Polarstream trailers 20 years ago, and within the past year alone, has used more than a million litres of liquid nitrogen.

“Our latest sustainability plan is ambitious and includes bold new science-based target to further improve the efficiency of our operations,” said M&S fleet engineer Anthony Whitehouse. “Our chilled delivery trucks have a role to play in that and we believe Dearman’s transport refrigeration unit could help us meet our emissions targets. Dearman’s impressive liquid nitrogen technology has shown the kind of results it can achieve and we are excited to be partnering with them.”

Dearman CEO Scott Mac Meekin added: “We are delighted to be launching a partnership with a real heavyweight on the UK high street. Marks & Spencer is a trusted brand for the quality of its products and the company is clearly ambitious on the sustainability agenda. It wants to go much further in cutting the carbon dioxide emissions of its chilled deliveries and a Dearman transport refrigeration unit is uniquely placed to achieve that goal.”

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