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Logistics giant Wincanton has revealed it is trialling 750 vehicles running on a 50:50 standard diesel to bio-fuel mix. Rebecca Jenkins, now Wincanton's sales director for UK and Ireland, told the audience at the Supply Chain and Logistics Consulting (SCALA) debate in Warwickshire last week that Wincanton has done a full audit of its environmental performance. Initiatives taken by the group include training drivers to adopt a more fuel efficient style and introducing double-deck trailers into  its fleet where possible.

The firm is also making optimum use of its WEEE recycling plant in Billingham near Middlesbrough to recycle electronic products previously sent to landfill, and operates a CFC reprocessing facility. Jenkins, former owner of home delivery firm Lane Group, detailed Wincanton's environmental stance at the debate to urge the industry to "think the unthinkable" about the environment. All firms should aim to improve their environmental performance, she insisted.

She said: "We all accept there's a huge amount of common things we can do to protect the environment. People don't just want talk, they want action, and it's a journey we all need to go on. "Sainsbury's has built an eco-friendly distribution centre in Northampton, which collects and recycles rainwater. "This sort of project should be the inspiration for us all."

SCALA presented the initial findings of a survey of food and drink distribution for the government. The study took  place in March and involved 109 fleets, almost 9,000 vehicles and covered 1.3 million kms. It found a considerable rise in goods deliveries to retailers' regional distribution centres at weekends due to Sunday trading - reducing deliveries during the week by up to a quarter.