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Hydrogen with those Fries? In Switzerland, McDonald’s Deliveries are by Hydrogen Fuel Cells Trucks

By May 30, 2021 4   min read  (645 words)

May 30, 2021 |

Fuel cells works, hydrogen, Switzerland, McDonald's, green hydrogen, fuel cells
  • World premiere in Switzerland thanks to a partnership between HAVI and McDonald’s

In a world-first, logistics company HAVI transported ingredients for Big Macs and other products to a McDonald’s restaurant in a zero-emission hydrogen truck.

Due to its long range of 400 kilometers, the zero-emission truck – powered by green electricity – transported the consignment from the HAVI logistics center in Oensingen (SO) to Crissier (VD), where McDonald’s head office has a restaurant, without refueling once and with water vapor as the only emission.

Going forward, this truck will be supplying McDonald’s restaurants in the Aargau, Basel, Bern, and Zurich regions. This finds the long-standing partners an effective step closer to achieving one of their climate goals: transporting 70 percent of McDonald’s Switzerland’s goods to its restaurants in a CO2-neutral manner by 2025; that figure stands at 64 percent today.

“To provide our environment with effective protection, we need integrated approaches – from logistics via the restaurants to the customers. We have been pursuing important climate goals for years, one of which involves HAVI, our logistics partner for over 35 years,” explains Aglaë Strachwitz, Managing Director of McDonald’s Switzerland.

45 percent reduction in CO2 emissions since 2009

Reducing CO2 emissions is a focus at McDonald’s and HAVI, which is why climate protection takes place on a variety of levels: Procurement from suppliers in Switzerland results in short transport distances and correspondingly low CO2 emissions. In addition, 55 percent of the transport kilometers covered by McDonald’s supplies between HAVI’s logistics center in Oensingen and the restaurants are accounted for by rail. This combined transport was the first major pioneering initiative undertaken by HAVI and McDonald’s. Since 2009, McDonald’s Switzerland has been able to reduce its restaurants’ CO2 emissions by 45 percent thanks to these measures and the use of green electricity from hydropower.

Sustainable fuels from waste

Unavoidable waste from McDonald’s kitchens is used for something new: Since the early 2000s, biodiesel has been produced from waste frying oil, while biogas has been produced from organic kitchen waste. HAVI’s trucks, which are used for the last-mile distribution of goods to the restaurants, run on a variable proportion of biodiesel or biogas. This closes the circle of another pioneering achievement in Switzerland.

HAVI’s first hydrogen truck

“We are immensely proud to be offering McDonald’s Switzerland the next step towards even more sustainable logistics,” says Andreas Schwab, Managing Director of HAVI Switzerland. “Uniquely, because we are the first logistics provider in the world to be offering this to McDonald’s.” Boasting a range of 400 kilometers, this first hydrogen truck runs quietly as well as emission-free; refueling with green hydrogen created using renewable energies takes just 10 minutes. HAVI is launching this pilot in collaboration with the Association pro H2 Mobility Switzerland, which is committed to promoting and speeding up the development of hydrogen mobility, by taking concrete measures.

About HAVI

HAVI is a global, owner-operated company specializing in the innovation, management and optimization of leading-brand supply chains. It offers holistic, integrated solutions throughout the supply chain from raw material to customer. Services range from supply chain management, logistics, sourcing and packaging to marketing services from TheMarketingStore. Established in 1974, HAVI has a workforce of more than 10,000 and serves customers in 100-plus countries.

About HAVI Switzerland and its sustainability strategy

In Switzerland, HAVI operates from two locations with around 120 employees. As a specialist in system catering supply chains, its focus is on sustainability. Having joined the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTI), HAVI is officially committed to further reducing its carbon footprint. To this end, the company makes use of rail transportation, which accounts for 55% of its transport kilometers in Switzerland. Waste cooking oil is used for biodiesel and kitchen waste for biogas trucks: The company also offers innovative recycling and waste management services.

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