Nicklin Transit Packaging has invested in its first electric articulated truck as part of its decarbonisation journey.
The acquisition of the new Volvo FM Electric Globetrotter Cab from the Hartshorne Group is the latest initiative by Nicklin aimed at reducing its carbon footprint and minimising the environmental impact of its products at every stage of their lifecycle.
Heavy goods vehicles currently account for 19% of domestic transport emissions in the UK with less than 500 fully electric HGVs on the road out of an overall fleet of almost 500,000 and Nicklin CEO and owner David Nicklin said the move towards electric was a vital pillar of a more sustainable and eco-conscious business model.
Earlier this year Nicklin opened a Biomass plant at its Wednesbury headquarters, which has eradicated the need for natural gas for heating as well as cutting thousands of haulage miles by burning up to 1,000 tonnes of timber waste that would have previously gone to landfill.
As well as being the first pallet and packaging company to invest in Volvo’s new generation of electric cabs, Nicklin has also invested in a fleet of electric forklift trucks as well as introduced LED lighting across its plant to further reduce its carbon footprint.
“At the heart of our approach is circularity,” said David Nicklin, CEO and owner. “We are using sustainable raw materials to design low carbon products that are reusable, repairable and recyclable with any wood waste being reprocessed to fuel through our biomass boiler.
“Through starting to replace our fleet of trucks with electric vehicles, we are now able to ensure our products are also being delivered in the most efficient and environmentally sustainable way possible.”
Nicklin is the leading independent UK packaging company for transit and transport packaging requirements.
