Spar Austria adopts bio-based fuel

Approximately 50% of the retailer’s vehicles for logistic operations will now be powered through renewable energy sources.

Spar Austria is moving towards their sustainable mobility goals with an intermediate step of switching to bio-based fuel powering their vehicles.

As part of an ambitious commitment to power their logistic operations with renewable energy sources by 2050, the retailer looks at greenhouse gas emissions incurred in local transportation.

Approximately 50% of the 300 trucks supplying Spar stores across Austria have been refueled with renewable Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) since mid-September. This fuel is made from used cooking oil and is considered a renewable low-carbon substitute for diesel.

The transition to this fuel can be done seamlessly with the same trucks continuing to deliver products to 1,500 stores in Austria. To date, the provinces of Vienna, Lower Austria, Burgenland, Styria, and Carinthia are using this source, with other regions to follow.

The brand confirmed a reluctance in the past to use this fuel source due to plant-based oils, such as rapeseed, soybean, or palm oil, potentially competing with other crops for land use during the fuel production process.

Spar Austria Board member Marcus Wild underscored that, as a food retailer, there is a definitive answer to the ‘plate or tank’ dilemma: food belongs on the plate. Ensuring the HVO fuel is 100% certified and obtained from used cooking oils and residues containing no palm oil was a key factor for Spar Austria to adopt this fuel in their vehicles.