A leading haulage company, Farrall’s Group, is making significant strides towards achieving net zero emissions as it implements sustainable practices and invests in renewable energy. The company, which employs over 110 staff across its sites in Deeside, Ashton Hayes, Sandycroft, Telford, and Newport, has successfully reduced its carbon footprint with assistance from the Carbon Reduction Feasibility Fund.
The Fund, managed by Antur Cymru Enterprise and supported by Pathway to Carbon Zero Ltd and Litegreen Ltd in collaboration with Flintshire County Council, has provided vital resources for the company’s sustainability initiatives.
Matthew Farrall, Managing Director of Farrall’s Group, highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainability, noting their proactive steps in reducing emissions. The company has already installed 1,400 solar panels at its Deeside headquarters, generating approximately half a million kilowatts of renewable energy annually. Additionally, Farrall’s Group has introduced electric forklift trucks and plans to incorporate Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) into its fleet of over 70 vehicles, which are washed using a rainwater harvesting system.
According to Farrall, consultants from the Fund played a crucial role in helping the company collate information and explore ways to enhance its eco-efficiency and renewable energy use in the long term. “The input of Pathway to Carbon Zero and Litegreen has been very beneficial,” he stated. “Their findings reinforced the changes we have made in the last 12 months and contributed to our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report, giving us the confidence we were on the right path while identifying areas for greater energy efficiency.”
Farrall emphasized the importance of addressing the company’s carbon footprint, especially as it operates a logistics business that covers many thousands of miles each year and produces greenhouse gas emissions from its vehicles and warehouses. “We will continue to improve and work in partnership with the sectors we serve, from food production and manufacturing to construction, aggregates, and retail,” he added.
As Farrall’s Group approaches its 70th anniversary, it has ordered a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) truck, expected to arrive in Spring. The company’s next phase of green initiatives will include the installation of electric battery storage. “The installation of the solar system at Deeside has significantly decreased our reliance on non-renewable energy sources, essentially taking us off-grid when the sun is shining,” Farrall noted. “When the new truck arrives, it will be powered by the solar energy generated, and our target is for at least 50% of our vehicles to be carbon neutral by 2040.”
Farrall’s Group is dedicated to becoming a leader in sustainable logistics, committed to implementing innovative solutions through investment. The Carbon Reduction Feasibility Fund, which received £297,294 from the UK Government via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, aims to help organisations in Flintshire access specialist advice and guidance on sustainable practices, ultimately reducing their carbon footprints and increasing profitability.
Rowan Jones, Fund Manager, praised Farrall’s Group as “one of the most innovative and forward-thinking companies in the region, especially regarding environmental issues and climate change.” He expressed optimism about the continued partnership and the positive impact of the Fund on the company’s efforts.