Lyreco UK & Ireland makes switch to electric with Wallbox

Lyreco UK & Ireland has gone the extra mile for their customers – and the planet – by making the switch to electric. 

By charging forward with the expansion of their electric fleet to be inline with the Clean Van Commitment Pledge to switch to zero tailpipe emission vans in cities by 2028.

The company, which is Europe’s largest distributor of office supplies and workplace solutions for businesses, are embracing the transformation towards a carbon-free future.

The challenge 

Although they have always put the environment at the heart of everything they do, Lyreco was determined to improve its carbon footprint – and develop an adequate nationwide infrastructure for battery-powered vehicles to support their deliveries. 

“We have our own logistics fleet,” Jake Jones, Quality, Safety, Sustainability and Supply Chain Project Coordinator said. “This allows us to give an amazing customised and personal experience to a large number of our customers, however it leads to a large portion of our currently monitored emission sources (31% in the UK, H1 2022) being from our distribution fleet. 

“Over the years we have reduced our CO2 in this category through upgrading vehicles, improving telematics and route optimisation; this has improved our distribution fleets fuel per delivery reduction by 32% in 2021. However, we are still using fossil fuels to do deliveries and therefore there is still a CO2 factor associated with our deliveries with our current fleet.”

The solution 

In order for the transition to a fully electric fleet to be viable, Lyreco connected with Wallbox for help installing charging points across 11 sites. 

Along with the 68 Pulsar Plus chargers provided by Wallbox, Lyreco also purchased REGO (Renewable Energy Guaranteed Origin) Electric, to provide the company with near carbon neutral electric from the grid to power its sites. 

And the results were incredible! 

The outcome means Lyreco now has 67 electric vehicles distributed to ten of its regional distribution sites across Great Britain and the routes that now have diesel vans switched out to EVs have seen a 97% reduction in CO2.

Peter Gojka, Building Services Manager, said:  “Our partnership with Wallbox  allows us to focus on other areas of this project while entrusting Wallbox to install our charging points quickly and efficiently to the relevant sites.”

“Overall this means we are able to support our customers and overall working together for tomorrow,” said Jake Jones.