Clean cold specialists Dearman have launched a partnership with high street giant Marks & Spencer, as the retailer seeks to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from its chilled deliveries.
Dearman’s groundbreaking, liquid nitrogen-powered engine is zero emission. The technology will replace diesel-powered secondary engines used to power transport refrigeration units (TRUs), which are used to keep food cold on the road.
Compared to a conventional diesel-powered TRU, a Dearman Hubbard system has the potential to cut CO2 emissions by up to 95%. The venture sees M&S lease a dual compartment Dearman Hubbard TRU, on a refrigerated semi-trailer, to be operated out of its Hemel Hempstead depot.
M&S has a strong record with liquid nitrogen TRUs; it led the way with hundreds of Polarstream trailers 20 years ago, and has taken on 15 Frostcruise units in the last four years. Last year saw M&S use more than one million litres of liquid nitrogen.
M&S’s ambition, in partnership with Dearman, is to quantify the costs and environmental benefits of Dearman’s technology before leading to a nationwide roll-out.
M&S’s last 10-year sustainability plan already saw it become the world’s first and only carbon neutral major retailer. It now plans to go even further in cutting its carbon emissions and in June 2017 launched its new sustainability plan – Plan A 2025. The retailer has over 1,000 stores across the UK and 60% of its UK turnover is from food sales.
