Logistics firm Europa Road has clinched a new contract which will see new routes for a major delivery firm using specially treated vegetable oil as fuel.

The Dartford-headquartered firm has agreed a deal with DPD Netherlands which will see the introduction of HVO-100 fuel - hydrotreated vegetable oil - on daily freight trips between the continent and the UK.

It comes as EU countries and the UK announce new targets to reduce emissions for road freight by 42% by 2030 from 2005 levels - while the Kent firm is also introducing its own emissions-reducing steps.

Stuart McKie, regional manager for Europa Road, said: “Phase one of the implementation is for the e-commerce line-hauls [the long-distance transport of freight between cities or towns] flowing from Eindhoven in the Netherlands to Hinckley in the UK. This consists of two trailers per day, five days a week.

“We have committed to replacing 30,000kms worth of diesel fuel with HVO-100, a major condition of this important new contract with DPD Netherlands.”

According to Nationwide Fuels, HVO-100 fuel reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 90 per cent, particulate matter emissions by up to 84 per cent and nitrous oxide emissions by up to 27 per cent.

Maurice Loef, line-haul director, DPD Netherlands, comments “I have been in this business for over 15 years, and what I am most excited about right now is our journey to transition away from fossil fuels.

“Currently, our Netherlands to UK operation completes more than 176,000kms per year. I predict that by the end of Q2 2024, 50% of all line-hauls out of DPD Netherlands will be running on HVO fuel.”