Our fleet
management
Reducing the environmental impacts of moving people and goods is crucial to Commercial’s goal to be Net-Zero by 2028.
COMMERCIAL’S FLEET MANAGEMENT
Driving down emissions
From providing clients with next-day deliveries or consolidated orders, to managing the movement of goods and services, plus measuring our employee’s day to day activities, driving down vehicle emissions is a major commitment for Commercial.
In fact, it was one of the first challenges we realised we must overcome when we embarked on our sustainability journey back in 2006. We have been involved in number of consortia to trial alternative fuels – including biodiesel, hydrogen and electric – since 2007, and signed up to the Clean Van Commitment pledging zero tailpipe emissions by 2028. We are also members of Hydrogen London promoting dialogue and action within the UK’s low carbon agenda.
Fleet Management
We partner with a fleet management company who help us empower our staff to become safer and more efficient drivers. With each driver completing bespoke daily to monthly vehicle checks, we can maintain a healthy road-safe fleet. Added to that, quarterly e-learning sessions are made available to all our drivers, with additional in-vehicle training, to help improve safety and driver peace of mind.
Our fleet management is crucial to ensuring the safety of all drivers and in supporting the SDG target 3.6, which includes a reduction in road traffic deaths and injuries globally by 50% by 2030.
Making every mile count
means saying goodbye to empty vans and hello to recycling
ZERO-EMISSIONS FLEET
We’re on the road to zero, company-wide
Our van fleet has been hydrogen-fuelled since 2012, saving 75% of CO2 for each mile travelled, compared to a diesel van. And in 2022, we launched our fully electric delivery fleet.
Elsewhere, we’ve committed to 30% of our national van fleet being zero emission by 2025, rising to 100% by 2028.
Of course, the problem is not just about vans moving goods; our team needs to move around the country too. We have set an ambitious strategy to eliminate all emissions within the company fleet.
Commercial stopped purchasing full diesel or petrol cars since 2021. Our vehicle replacement strategy is increasing year-on-year, and we’re on track to reach our goal, that 75% of our company cars will either be a hybrid or zero-emission vehicles by 2025. At that point, we’ll no longer purchase hybrid cars, as we strive to achieve a zero-emissions fleet by 2028.
290
FROM OUR VAN FLEET ALONE
Wheels around the world
We have been proud supporters of World Bicycle Relief since [2019] – this partnership makes up our bicycle twinning programme. Whenever we add a car or van to our company fleet, we donate a new bicycle to someone in one of the world’s poorest countries. And even if it’s a quiet year on the fleet front, we’ve committed to donating at least five bicycles per year. Often, these bicycles are donated to girls, giving them a safer way to get to school.
It’s not just the bicycles that are giving people easier access in and around their communities. The programme also trains mechanics, making it a sustainable and self-sufficient way to transform communities.
70+
Total bicycles donated by the end of 2023
4
£8,300+
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Helping people to access services in their communities
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Supporting everyday lives in deprived rural regions of the world
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Connecting with communities far from our home territory
In 2022...
Many people are living in communities far from paved roads, walking miles each day
Distance can be a barrier to everyday tasks such as going to school, visiting medical clinics, or taking goods to market.
The bicycles...
…we provide are specially designed for rugged terrain and locally assembled.
Empowering communities
Empowering communities lies at the heart of World Bicycle Relief’s transformative mission. With the profound impact of just two wheels, they are revolutionising the lives of individuals across diverse communities, from students to health workers and entrepreneurs.
The simple yet powerful gift of a bicycle has become a catalyst for change, enabling students to access education more easily, empowering health workers to reach remote areas and deliver critical care, and providing entrepreneurs with newfound mobility to pursue their dreams and foster economic growth.
In 2023, Commercial took a momentous step towards contributing to this life-changing cause. With great dedication and commitment, they were able to provide an impressive total of 29 bicycles, making it their highest contribution in a single year. This remarkable achievement not only reflects Commercial’s unwavering support for the empowerment of communities but also highlights their commitment to making a tangible difference in people’s lives.
We are commited to making a tangible difference in people’s lives
We are incredibly grateful to have Commercial Group as our partner, not only for their commitment to sustainable practices but also for their dedication to our cause. With their innovative programme of donating a bicycle for every sales vehicle they add, Commercial Group is making a significant impact in our efforts to provide sustainable mobility to those who need it most.
Thank you, Commercial, for your unwavering support in creating a better world, one bike at a time.
Allison Dufosee
Chief Executive, World Bicycle Relief
AIR QUALITY IMPACT
Reducing negative impacts on health and the environment
Traffic pollution is damaging to human health and to the natural world. And so, the move to low emission vehicles – such as our investment in hydrogen-fuelled and electric vehicles – is critical for delivering air quality benefits at a local level.
Scientific Research
Delving into the depths of knowledge, scientific research seeks to unravel mysteries and advance human understanding across disciplines.
King’s College London
Diesel exhaust
Monitored levels
Driver exposure
Powered by sunshine
The key to Commercial achieving zero tailpipe emissions in London has been the switch to electric
In 2022, we invested in a new fleet of electric vans for deliveries across the capital’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Ensuring our drivers, and local communities, are not being exposed to air pollutants derived from fossil fuels.
We even charge those vans from the solar array we have at our Perivale base, meaning all our journeys are powered by sunshine.
Send our SUSTAINABILITY team a message
making our company more environmentally conscious
In an era where the importance of environmental consciousness cannot be overstated, our Sustainability Team has risen to the challenge with unwavering commitment and innovative thinking. Led by their passion for creating a better and more sustainable future, they have implemented strategies that not only benefit our company but also contribute to the greater good.
Simone Hindmarch
Co-founder and managing director