McCulla Ireland, a leading refrigerated haulage company in Northern Ireland, has announced a significant fleet expansion with an investment of £3.1 million. This investment, secured from Lombard, introduces 25 new trucks, including 11 powered by eco-friendly biogas.
- The investment aligns with McCulla’s commitment to sustainability, achieving a remarkable 79% reduction in carbon emissions.
- Approximately 85% of McCulla’s fleet now operates on biogas, significantly lowering their carbon footprint compared to traditional diesel vehicles.
- The biogas initiative has already facilitated substantial carbon savings, with fleet vehicles covering millions of kilometres using this renewable energy source.
- Support from Lombard underscores McCulla’s pioneering role in sustainable haulage, likely inspiring similar initiatives across the sector.
McCulla Ireland has strategically enhanced its fleet with a £3.1 million investment, incorporating 25 new trucks, of which 11 are biogas-powered. This move is a testament to McCulla’s unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability, as the company continues to lead in reducing carbon emissions within the haulage industry.
The company, which is a second-generation family business with operations in Lisburn, Dublin and Mallusk, has been progressively transforming its fleet. As it stands, approximately 85% of their Northern Ireland fleet is now powered by biogas, a clean alternative to diesel, reducing carbon emissions by 93%. This significant transition is anchored by an anaerobic digester plant at McCulla’s Lisburn facility, which produces the biogas fuel.
In 2023 alone, McCulla’s biogas fleet traversed 2.4 million kilometres, achieving a saving of 2.6 million kg of CO2 emissions. In the current year, the fleet has already covered over 1 million kilometres. The firm is also evaluating the adoption of biogas for its logistics depots elsewhere.
Michael Gray, Finance Director at McCulla, emphasised the firm’s longstanding environmental goals, stating: “For many years we have been on a mission to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels in our transport fleet, and these new biogas-run vehicles represent our latest step in completing that mission.” His remarks highlight the proactive measures McCulla is taking to fulfil its sustainability commitments with the aid of Lombard.
Declan Napier of Lombard echoed this sentiment, recognising McCulla’s significant impact on sustainable practices within the haulage industry. McCulla’s approach, which involves a closed-loop system for energy production and consumption, serves to minimise wastage across its supply chain, a model Napier suggests could inspire broader change.
McCulla Ireland operates unparalleled within the UK and Ireland, utilising biogas derived from food waste, which not only powers its fleet but also generates electricity for its cold storage facilities. Moreover, the anaerobic digester plant produces bio-fertiliser for local farms, enhancing the circular economy model embraced by the company.
McCulla Ireland’s investment establishes a benchmark in sustainable haulage, showcasing the viable use of biogas in reducing environmental impact.
