B&Q Completes Logistics Fleet Transition to Low-Carbon Fuels

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Home improvement retailer B&Q has switched its entire logistics fleet to alternative, low-carbon fuels, advancing its goal to reduce transport emissions and achieve net zero by 2040. B&Q, working with its logistics partner GXO, has confirmed that its entire logistics fleet has now transitioned to low-carbon fuels.

The milestone, shared through company statements and partner communications, marks a significant step toward B&Q’s long-term net-zero goals. According to GXO, the transition will result in thousands of tonnes of CO₂ emissions being cut annually, supporting both companies’ broader decarbonization strategies.

While no formal press release has been issued, the move has been highlighted across industry publications and by B&Q and GXO executives in recent updates.

This is not B&Q’s first step into greener transport. In 2019, the company added 105 liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles to its operations, creating what it claims is the second-largest LNG fleet in the country. That shift alone has already removed roughly 16,000 tonnes of carbon emissions from its footprint.

All calculations are performed using activity-based carbon accounting methods and the government’s official conversion factors, with annual audits in place to verify the accuracy of the results.

The latest progress forms part of a wider decarbonization program run in collaboration with GXO Logistics, the company that oversees B&Q’s distribution network. According to both firms, the initiative reduced projected emissions by 40 per cent in 2024, just two years after they launched what they call their “sustainability glidepath,” a detailed roadmap designed to decarbonise the entire fleet.

B&Q’s director of logistics, Darren Hall, said: “Decarbonisation of our fleet and use of up-to-date and available technologies is a vital step in our transition to alternative fuels, allowing us to give customers more choice in sustainable delivery options and reducing our impact on the environment.

“It’s great to work alongside GXO to help us to drive our ambitions forward and reach our 2040 net-zero goals.”

Electrification is now beginning to take shape as well. Today, B&Q operates five electric vans and two electric heavy goods vehicles, with two more HGVs expected in 2025. Within five years, the company plans to add another 55 electric vehicles. The current electric fleet alone is projected to save 250 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

Alongside fuel changes, the company has made operational adjustments. Route optimisation software, driver performance monitoring, and more innovative scheduling have cut fleet size by nearly 10 per cent since 2021.

Improvements in backhauling reduced indirect Scope 3 emissions by 104 tonnes in 2024. In early 2025, the retailer also introduced 35 LNG-powered Volvo FH Aero tractor units, each designed to deliver a 3 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency. Together, they are expected to save around 100 tonnes of carbon annually.

Looking ahead, B&Q is trialling an artificial intelligence system that optimises transport activity. Early results suggest that the tool could eliminate 240,000 kilometres of unnecessary travel and prevent 150 tonnes of carbon emissions annually once fully implemented.

GXO UK & Ireland’s managing director Gavin Williams said: “Achieving zero emissions in logistics transport is a significant challenge – one that can only be met through a combination of strategies.

“B&Q’s approach stands out as a model for the industry, proving that innovation, collaboration, and sustainability can go hand in hand to create a more efficient and environmentally conscious fleet.”