The City of London Corporation, DHL Supply Chain and Ford Pro are conducting a sustainable delivery trial at London’s historic Billingsgate Market to explore ways to reduce traffic, reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and offer a better customer experience.
Launched in March and continuing until August, 40 traders at Billingsgate are taking part in the trial, which focusses on deliveries from the market to commercial customers in the capital, including some of London’s most prestigious establishments.
Many traders rely on vans to make these deliveries, but for much of the day these vans are not in use. The City Corporation identified the opportunity to consolidate some of those trips, which avoids duplicating journeys and requires fewer vans.
Funded by the City Corporation, which owns and manages Billingsgate Market, the trial is being run using DHL Supply Chain and Ford Pro vehicles, software and servicing support. 1
The 18-week collaboration has revealed significant opportunities to benefit both business and the environment. There has been an estimated 37 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions compared with business as usual, 2 with 949 fewer vehicle journeys on central London’s congested roads resulting in 23,961 fewer kilometres driven overall. This has also supported reduced costs and improved efficiencies for participating businesses.
This trial is part of the City Corporation’s aim to reduce the environmental impact of its wholesale markets through innovation, including the planned relocation of Billingsgate, Smithfield and New Spitalfields markets to Dagenham Dock. An electric vehicle charging point has been installed in the market car park.
Billingsgate traders’ case studies
Youssef Archi is director of Ish Seafood. The stall has been trading in Billingsgate since 2015 and supplies fishmongers in and around London. The business used to run its deliveries using two vans.
“The delivery service is now getting better and better, so we’re not using our vans anymore. Before, every time we got a new customer we needed a new van, which was just more headache for us. Now, we can just focus on getting more customers.”
Mark Button is managing director of Barney’s Billingsgate Ltd., a jellied eel and shellfish wholesaler that has been trading for 60 years at Billingsgate. The stall’s main customers are restaurants and shops, fishmongers and homes in and around London.
The pilot has helped to attract new customers.
“I don’t usually take on new customers that aren’t on my existing routes. Now, I can send the parcels via the delivery service and they arrive the same day. It’s cheaper than customers coming here and cheaper than me doing it. It can only be better for the environment that we use fewer vans. I would use a multi-drop-off service.”
Jeff Steadman is director of Chamberlain & Thelwell Ltd. The company has been supplying hotels and restaurants in and around London since 1981. Steadman runs his own fleet of vans, sometimes delivering fish two or three times a day to the same customers.
“With the markets moving forwards, London’s moving forward. Many major cities are going greener by 2030 and electric is coming into play. To have a dedicated service is a very good thing for the market. Customers will be very interested when we go fully green with electric vehicles. Everybody needs to reduce their carbon footprint.”
