Albertsons Companies, the second largest supermarket chain in the country, collaborated with Volvo Trucks North America to make the first commercial 100 percent zero-emission grocery delivery with a Class 8 truck in the U.S. late last week.
The Boise, ID-based retailer received two zero tailpipe emission Volvo VNR Electric trucks at its distribution center in Irvine, California, which it paired with electric-powered transport refrigeration units from Advanced Energy Machines (AEM). The delivery vehicles will be serving Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions stores in Southern California.
“The partnership Albertsons has built with Volvo Trucks has enabled our fleet to be on the forefront of innovation and to demonstrate our leadership in sustainable transportation,” said Tim Burke, vice president of transportation, Albertsons Cos. “We look forward to operating Volvo VNR Electric trucks in our Southern California routes, as they will not only help improve air quality in the communities in which we operate, but the quiet motors will also provide a better working environment for our drivers and grocery store staff.”
This milestone for the company aligns with the April 2021 announcement of its commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and its plans to set an emissions reduction target that supports the goals of the United Nations’ Paris Agreement to reduce carbon emissions. It also pledged to evaluate energy use and procurement, refrigerants, transportation, and its supply chain to submit an emissions reduction goal to SBTi for approval.
“We are passionate about making a meaningful difference in our neighborhoods and planet and are committed to continuing to reduce our climate impacts,” said Vivek Sankaran, President and CEO. “The SBTi framework will guide us in doing our part to minimize our impact within our own operations and beyond. We look forward to working with our supply chain partners to address this important issue.”
The Science Based Targets initiative is a partnership between CDP, UN Global Compact, WRI, and WWF that helps companies take meaningful climate action through its science-based framework. The framework requires all emissions reduction goals to support the Paris Agreement’s objective to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
Albertsons Cos. operates 1,400 Class 8 trucks nationwide, all of which are certified under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay program as meeting high transportation sustainability and efficiency standards.
The inaugural delivery took place on Friday, May 28, at an Albertsons LEED-certified store in Irvine, California. Event speakers pictured from left to right: Tim Burke, vice president of transportation, Albertsons Cos; Dee Dee Myers, senior advisor and director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz); Gideon Kracov, board member, California Air Resources Board; Lisa Bartlett, Orange County supervisor and South Coast Air Quality Management District governing board member; and Christina Ameigh, regional vice president of sales, West, Volvo Trucks North America.
