Tilbury Douglas has teamed up with with construction services provider Speedy to help cut its projects CO2e emissions by up to 90% using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

The company has switched to using HVO from red diesel to fuel generators and machinery on its projects UK wide. The partners expect the switch to save 2,500 tonnes of CO2e per year, a similar impact to taking 1,800 cars off the road.

Tilbury Douglas counts NHS Trusts, the Department for Education and private sector organisations among its clients. Current projects include the construction of Walsall Healthcare Trust's new £40 million emergency department and a new 80-place Discovery Academy in Sheffield, which will both benefit from the HVO switch.


Speedy supplies Green D+ enhanced HVO as its preferred low emission fuel, which can be used in pre-existing engines to reduce CO2e. Use of the fuel also aims to improve local air quality to protect workers and projects’ neighbouring communities.

Bernadette Jackson, procurement and supply chain manager, said: "We're committed to delivering important buildings, such as schools and hospitals, as well as the infrastructure that can deliver a brighter future in the areas we work in. But to truly achieve this, we need to ensure that we build in a sustainable way that minimises our environmental impact, which is why we have launched our new sustainability strategy called People, Planet and Performance (PPP).

"As part of PPP, we have worked with Speedy, and its UK-wide fuel distribution network, to make the significant switch to HVO from red diesel. It’s a move that puts our responsibility towards communities and the environment first."

Sarah Burki, Sustainability Lead at Tilbury Douglas, commented: "The switch from red diesel to HVO will have a great impact on our carbon emissions, moving us closer to our commitment to be net zero in our own operations and reducing our relative carbon emissions, as set out in our new PPP strategy. With the ability to slash carbon emissions and associated air pollution, it's important that we capitalise on these opportunities that help us reduce our impact on the environment and the communities in which we work."