Danske Fragtmænd switches to sustainable HVO biodiesel and saves the environment 300 tonnes of CO2e a year

The green transition is high on the agenda of Denmark’s largest national carrier, and this is even though the technological development of “green” lorries is still immature. That leaves Danske Fragtmænd to look in other directions as the company seeks to improve its green bottom line. CEO Jørn P. Skov explains.

“We have recently deployed four electric lorries in the three largest cities in Denmark. However, the lorries can only travel very short distances and cost up to four times as much to buy as a traditional diesel lorry. Therefore, we are also starting to run some of the lorries in our city distribution in Aarhus, Odense, and Copenhagen on HVO biodiesel.”

However, HVO biodiesel is not a cheap solution either. For Danske Fragtmænd, the initiative will mean a significant additional cost, and Jørn P. Skov would like to avoid that.

“Politicians have high ambitions for Denmark and the environment, and they want to be at the forefront of the green transition. However, in the transport sector, the green transition is not so straightforward, as neither the technology nor the infrastructure for sustainable fuels is ready or economically viable. Politically, things are moving too slowly, and the challenge is that the industry cannot shoulder the financial burden of a green transition alone. It is just not realistic for most transport companies, as their revenue is already under pressure,” says Jørn P. Skov.

The petrol company OK Benzin is the supplier of the HVO biodiesel. In line with Danske Fragtmænd, the company also wants policies to make green fuels more economically attractive for companies to use.

“We make HVO biodiesel available, for example, in collaboration with Danske Fragtmænd, and we are ready for the green transition. However, we agree that there is a lack of political incentives for hauliers to have the finances for HVO biodiesel, among other things. At OK, we have expanded the station network in terms of where you can refuel HVO biodiesel and are focused on expanding it further as the need arises,” says Henrik Dehn, Market Manager for Transport at OK, and continues: “At OK, we currently have HVO stands at five different Truck Diesel stations - in Køge, Avedøre Holme, on Prags boulevard in Copenhagen, Aarslev near Aarhus and in Odense.”

Despite the lack of financial support from the government, Danske Fragtmænd does not want to stop the green development. The company has set itself some ambitious targets in its forthcoming environmental report for 2021.

“We will not sit on our hands and wait for politicians to realise that something needs to be done in this area if they want to achieve their 2030 targets. We have set ourselves some ambitious green targets, and we must work towards them with the means at our disposal,” concludes Jørn P. Skov.

For more information, please contact Head of Communications Henriette Kjærholm Aagaard, e-mail henriette.aagaard@fragt.dk or M +45 51907043.