Mars UK and DHL delivery facility crowns £350 million sustainability investment
Pic: Mars UK
Mars UK and DHL have joined forces to create an advanced warehousing facility, London Thames Gateway, as part of a wider £350 million investment and partnership between the two businesses, writes Neill Barston.
As the confectionery and good group noted, the new site will notably enhance its logistics within the region, reducing carbon footprint by 7.7% and remove a million miles a year from roads – which is 40 times around the world.
Notably, the two firms hailed the new location as a major milestone in delivering on sustainability targets, and also showcasing their joint commitment to finding innovative solutions to reduce environmental impact in logistics operations, whilst ensuring that Mars is well positioned to deliver their portfolio of products to future generations.
The new facility, standing at 42 meters makes it one of the tallest distribution centres in Europe and features 3,700 solar panels, which produce 27% of the site’s power usage. It has achieved BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ accreditation, placing it in the top 1% of non-domestic buildings in the UK environmentally.
The building helps Mars realise its ambition of creating a world-class logistics network that is sustainable, smart, and agile. Its streamlined operations incorporate the latest automated pallet storage and retrieval (ASRS) technology and the Gateway facility also features High Frequency charging of equipment resulting in up to 30% less energy usage, rainwater harvesting and LED lighting throughout.
Furthermore, as the company noted, its range spanning confectionery series such as Celebrations, through to rice and petfood sees it transport over 1.2 million pallets of its products every year – which, if you stack those pallets on top of each other, is the equivalent of shipping the height of Mount Everest every other day. The two new sites will increase Mars’ UK warehousing capacity by over 50%.
The location of the warehouse means it has strong transport links. Mars is able to streamline the inbound and outbound distribution of its product portfolio, removing a million miles a year from roads.
Adam Grant, General Manager, Mars Wrigley UK – Mars said: “Today is a major milestone for Mars UK’s logistics operations and a meaningful step in our sustainability journey. Over the past few years, our partnership with DHL has seen the completion of two pioneering facilities. Not only does this futureproof our distribution practices, it also puts into action Mars’ aim to create a world-class logistics operation that is sustainable, smart and agile.”
Saul Resnick, CEO, DHL Supply Chain UK&I also welcomed the deal, which he believed offered strong potential for both businesses in delivering on their environmental goals. He said: “This project with Mars UK further solidifies our belief that working with partners whose business and sustainability targets align with your own allows you to achieve the best results. This partnership does exactly that – it represents a great example for others of how businesses can work together to reduce carbon footprint and create a more sustainable future. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Mars UK and supporting the company’s growth in the years to come.”
