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Sainsbury's will be switching some of its London deliveries to the Thames after completing successful trials earlier this year. The supermarket giant claims this could save 350,000 vehicle kilometres, making a major contribution to its targeted 25% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2012. Sainsbury's explains: "The trial was carried out with one store. Now infrastructure has to be added and we plan to eventually supply 12 stores this way,  including places such as Fulham and Putney."

These sites will be those near the Thames, to minimise the length of final deliveries from the barge to the store. The spokeswoman adds that these trips could eventually be carried out by the electric vehicles which are joining the Sainsbury's fleet. Richard Everitt, chief executive of the Port of London Authority, says: "As water freight doesn't face traffic build-up, the trial actually showed that freight moves faster on the river than on central London's roads. You also get free energy when you use the river as the tide helps propel the vessel."

One barge will take the equivalent of two truckloads off the road every day - the trial saved 10 truck journeys per week. Sainsbury's plans is to reduce the distance covered by its fleet and suppliers' vehicles by five million kilometres by 2010.