Bicester-based Darcica Logistics, a member of Palletways UK, has passed its Mission Zero audit with flying colours – a Quality Accredited Standard for the road fleet sector (equivalent to FORS Silver) which now includes a Sustainability Module aligned to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.  The company is an advocate for sustainable logistics, and lately has experienced an uptick in business from companies who market sustainable products.

Darcica director Anthony Tattersall explains: “Many of our newer customers offer green products to consumers, and they’ve sought us out because they want to work with a like-minded logistics provider. These include solar panel specialist Westech Solar, Ultimate Renewables Supplies, one of the UK's leading design and supply specialists in heat pumps, UFH, MVHR, PV & battery storage to installers and merchant partners, and Osmo which sells a range of sustainable paint products.

“We practise what we preach about sustainable logistics, from optimising transportation, warehousing, packaging and distribution processes to reducing energy consumption, emissions, and waste so it’s great to get this recognition and independent audit from Mission Zero. Businesses are increasingly re-evaluating their practices to minimise their carbon footprint and contribute to a greener future and want to work with partners who align with their values – as we’re now seeing.”  

Jenny Chen, director, Westech Solar (UK) Limited, said: “As a renewable material importer and supplier we’re passionate about contributing to net carbon emissions by bringing renewable technologies and affordable products to the UK market. We’re delighted to work with Darcica as the whole team has a similar ethos to our own. All Darcica’s activities consider the environment – and by working together we can help to make a big difference. Their electric vehicle fleet, including their first fully electric 3.5-tonne truck, is impressive and provides zero-emission sustainable deliveries and collections in and out of Oxford.”

John McCarthy, director of Ultimate Renewables Supplies, adds: “We chose Darcica for our pallet collections because we wanted confidence that our products and needs were going to be looked after and delivered efficiently.  Like us Darcica is an Oxfordshire business who’s leading the way in its sector. They’re flexible and efficient and, through the Palletways portal, we can track our goods and receive updates throughout.”

Darcica collect 15 pallets a week from Ultimate Renewables Supplies, which are delivered overnight to the Palletways hubs in Fradley and London, ready for onward distribution to UK customers.

The Palletways UK member has already implemented paper packaging instead of plastic, uses recyclable clear plastic shrink pallet wrap, introduced electric vehicles which save approximately 15.5 tonne CO2e a year and moved over to renewable energy at its depots.  In 2022 Darcica won the Green Award at the Oxfordshire Business Awards, and went on to win a trio of awards in 2023 for New Business, Business Person of the Year and Business of the Year – being recognised and praised for its drive for sustainable logistics.