Dutch retailer Albert Heijn wants to supply centers of large cities quietly and cleanly. Therefore, Albert Heijn is accelerating the sustainability of transport to stores and customers with its partners. From the end of 2022, Albert Heijn will use 100% electric transport for home delivery of groceries and supplying its shops in the center of The Hague; Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Amsterdam will follow. For customers and local residents, this means quieter and cleaner transport in their areas with the same ease and convenience. In addition, Albert Heijn wants to switch entirely to biofuels for all transport by 2024. The overall plan is:
- The inner city of The Hague (city center ring) will be 100% electric by the end of 2022
- The inner city of Rotterdam (city center ring) will be 100% electric in the first quarter of 2023
- The city center of Utrecht (center) will be 100% electric in the second half of 2023
- The inner city of Amsterdam (city center ring) will be 100% electric in the second half of 2023
Constantijn Ninck Blok, Director of Logistics & Chain at Albert Heijn: “The demand for transport is growing, partly due to the popularity of home delivery. At the same time, we want to take major steps to reduce CO2 emissions as quickly as possible – we see this as our responsibility. But, of course, this can only be achieved through good cooperation, so it is fantastic that we are now doing this together with our transport partners in the four major inner cities in the Netherlands. And we are not finished yet — our ambition goes further: ever quieter and cleaner delivery, of course, focused on convenience, with sufficient availability and always on time for our customers.”
By expanding the number of electric trucks and delivery cars used and properly planning trips, charging moments, and locations, Albert Heijn, and its transport partners will ensure that fully electrical deliveries can be made in these city centers.
Albert Heijn is focusing early on the “zero-emission zones” that are expected to be introduced by Dutch cities from 2025 to improve air quality. By 2030, only completely emission-free delivery cars and trucks will be allowed to drive in these zones.
As much biofuel as possible
Until 100% emission-free delivery and supply are possible in the Netherlands, Albert Heijn will reduce CO2 by switching entirely to biofuels and renewable diesel by 2024. The brand started switching to biofuels in 2021 and now has 240 trucks running on more environmentally friendly LNG fuel. The goal is to expand this to 270 before the end of 2022.
Charging stations
While many customers can cycle and walk to its stores, Albert Heijn also wants to make other forms of sustainable transport as easy as possible. So, together with Eneco eMobility, the brand will install 240 electric car charging stations at stores this year.
CO2 reduction
Albert Heijn wants to “Make better food accessible together. For everyone.” To achieve this mission, the company is taking more and more steps to leave the world a better place. It has significantly reduced emissions in its own business operations – shops, distribution centers, home delivery, and offices. Albert Heijn reduced CO2 emissions in its stores by 92.3% compared to 2018, mainly by switching to 100% Dutch wind energy at the beginning of 2021.
Albert Heijn compensates for the remaining emissions in its operations by contributing to VCS-certified climate projects, making it’s business operations climate neutral. In addition, the company continues to work on further reduction across the supply chain.
Source: Albert Heijn