The IGD has announced that 124 million HGV miles have been taken off UK roads as part of its Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) UK Sustainable Distribution initiative.

The initiative has exceeded its four-year target of removing 120 million road miles by the end of 2010, a year early - the equivalent of removing 2,000 lorries from Britain's roads - and conserving 60 million litres of diesel fuel per year.

Originally spearheaded by companies involved in ECR UK under the auspices of the IGD, the activities have been extended across the industry and now includes 40 of the UK’s leading household retailer and manufacturer brands.

These companies are significantly reducing the environmental impact of transporting food and groceries in the UK by engaging in initiatives such as the use of double-decker vehicles and the sharing of lorries to deliver grocery products.

IGD chief executive Joanne Denney-Finch said: “This is an outstanding achievement. Sustainability remains top of the agenda for both the food industry and the government. This successful initiative demonstrates that even in a highly competitive industry, companies remain committed to minimising environmental impact, meeting consumer demands, and at the same time reducing costs.

"This innovative and efficient way of working could shape the way we transport food and grocery items in the future."

The road miles saved have been generated through a mix of best practice internal projects and external partnerships between retailers and suppliers. IGD has helped to contribute towards the miles saved by providing the industry with a suite of online resources designed to capture and share best practice across the supply chain.

Participating companies include Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Morrisons, Brakes and Booker Group.

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