In 1998, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol was launched. This was implemented to standardise greenhouse gas accounting and in this report all achievements, goals, and future targets will be categorised into scopes 1, 2, and 3. As well as reporting our emissions in these categories, we plan our initiatives within these categories to determine its level of impact.
Scope 1 Electric Vehicles
The introduction of electric vehicles into our delivery vehicle fleet would help further reduce our scope 1 significantly. We have been in contact with our supplier regarding a potential transition to these vehicles, and there is a current challenge preventing the transition. Electric vehicles are still a relatively new form of technology as they begun mainstream production in the 2010s and the technology is still developing every year. Although after discussions with our delivery vehicle supplier, we have found that the technology at this current point in time is not where we need it to be. Currently the battery life from a full charge would allow the delivery vehicle to drive for approximately 150 miles. Also, when the energy consumption from the refrigeration in the van and the weight of the produce is considered that mileage estimation decreases significantly. Ideally, we would replace our diesel powered vehicles with electric vehicles as they are much more reliable, they have lower running costs, our local air pollution impact would significantly decrease and we would produce less emissions. However, as we transport produce all across the country, an electrification of our vehicle fleet is simply not feasible at this point in time. To obtain a better understanding of their capabilities, we are in discussions with our supplier regarding a trial of one vehicle. This vehicle would be used for local deliveries, in and around the Manchester area unless we find that it would be capable of covering more distance. This trial will be performed to gain an accurate reading of their capability with our demand, how we could use them and integrate them, when the technology develops.
HVO Fuel
In the meantime as an alternative to electric vehicles, we are enquiring about HVO fuel. HVO stands for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil but can also be referred to as renewable fuel. This is a different fuel to the commonly known biodiesel, as it is a second-generation biofuel which is made from vegetable oils or animal fats. The raw materials undergo a specialist hydro-treatment process to achieve high levels of purity and the result is a stable fuel with a long-shelf life and consistent performance year-round. This fuel would easily integrate with our vehicle fleet as HVO fuel and diesel can be blended together and used simultaneously. It is a considerably more environmentally friendly fuel source compared to biodiesel and it is a fossil fuel-free alternative to diesel. If our vehicles were to be 100% powered by HVO fuel, then we would experience a 90% reduction in our net scope 1 emissions. This fuel is also 100% biodegradable, sustainable, and renewable. Subsequently, this option would be an excellent alternative until the technological advancements of electric vehicles take place and we can transition to them. We plan on gradually introducing HVO fuel into our vehicle fleet, to measure the exact impact it could have on our scope 1 emissions and gradually lower our diesel fuel consumption.
Scope 2
On-Site Renewable Energy Generation
As our goal for scope 2 is to be 100% powered by renewable energy, we are currently exploring options to generate renewable energy on-site in Manchester. We have been in contact with potential suppliers to assess the compatibility of a Solar PV Farm and our site. Of course overcast weather will have a negative impact on the energy potential of the solar panels. Although as our factory is south facing and there is no shading from the local greenery therefore we would be able to obtain a significant amount of electricity due to these optimal conditions. The installation of an on-site Solar PV Farm will be a great addition to our sustainable initiatives and we aim to begin the process of installation in 2024. When this work is completed we will experience an immediate reduction in our scope 2 emissions as the heat reclaim system will vastly reduce our gas consumption and this will reduce our reliance on the national grid. It will also play a crucial role in achieving our aim to be fully powered by renewable energy.
On-Site Anaerobic Digestion
To implement an on-site anaerobic digestion system would reduce our scope 2 and scope 3 emissions. This why despite B&M Waste Services already using this system to dispose of our organic waste, we want to implement it in our production site. It is important to us that none of our waste gets sent to landfill, and if we can process and dispose of it ourselves then the environment will be better off for it. Anaerobic digestion is a process through which bacteria breaks down organic matter. The bacteria will consume our organic waste and in that process will produce biogas, once the gas is produced and extracted it can be used as a source of renewable energy. The remaining waste falls to the bottom of the chamber and can be extracted to make a nutrient-rich organic fertiliser. This system would further improve our energy independence and in the future we may even be able to provide excess energy to the national grid. Subsequently this would reduce our scope 2 as it would be another renewable source of energy. It would also have a positive influence on our scope 3 emissions as B&M would not have to travel to our sites to collect the organic waste. We can also target suppliers who use synthetic fertilisers and replace that with our organic fertiliser to mitigate environmental impacts synthetic fertiliser are known to have. Therefore, as it is a valuable technology for organic waste management, the introduction of an on-site anaerobic digestion will have an important impact across our supply chain.
Scope 3 Greywater System
As a meat processing site, maintaining the highest hygiene standards is of upmost importance to us here at MJ Birtwistles & Co Ltd. Therefore, our hygiene team must ensure that each piece of equipment and machinery is regularly cleaned and disinfected. As part of this process a considerable amount of hot water is used to mitigate the spread of allergens and ensure the quality and cleanliness of our products. We will be implementing a greywater system to utilise the wastewater from our factory and offices in our production site in Manchester. This system will retain, filter, store, and distribute all streams of water without faecal contamination. It is a treatment system which will remove all contaminants using biological, chemical, and physical actions and the water will also an undergo ‘ultrafiltration’ process to prevent particles, bacteria, and viruses from passing through to ensure the water is safe to re-use. Our water use is being monitored, and we will be implementing resource efficient hose nozzles to provide our hygiene team with the tools to mitigate the volume of water in use. Despite these initiatives, our water usage is unavoidable and having this system in place would reduce our water consumption and limit our pressure on the nations water supply.
Overall Improvement of Monitorisation
Currently our level of monitorisation is sufficient to understand our general consumption and areas for improvement. Although, to better understand and target specific actions within the business then improvement of our monitorisation efforts will be required. We will be installing sensors to monitor our electricity, gas, and water consumption. Also as we want to set measurable and achievable emission reduction targets and set a net zero goal. To do this we will need to obtain an accurate evaluation of our scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. This monitorisation extends to our suppliers as we want to help improve the supply chain as a whole.
