Keystone cooking oil biodiesel cuts fuel costs by 750,000

Keystone cooking oil biodiesel cuts fuel costs by 750,000

*Distributor Keystone replaces diesel with biofuel
*Used cooking oil converted to biodiesel saves 14.4k per week
*Innovation insulates McDonalds from rising fuel prices

Keystone Distribution UK, the distribution partner for McDonalds UK, will slash 750,000 off fuel costs over the coming year by swapping diesel for converted cooking oil.

The first fleet of 41 vehicles at Keystones Basingstoke distribution centre has been running on 100% biodiesel converted from waste cooking oil from McDonalds restaurants for just over a year. The conversion of the second fleet of 51 vehicles at the companys Hemel Hempstead DC is scheduled to be completed by the end of the month (October).

Keystone will save about 14,400 each week by running the two fleets on the converted cooking oil rather than regular HGV diesel. Total annual savings on transportation costs will therefore approach the 750,000-mark.

Paul Pegg, Keystones Managing Director, said: The past year has been a time of extreme rises in the cost of diesel, making Keystones move to biodiesel manufactured from 100% used cooking oil even more significant. As well as cutting out costs from the supply chain, we are also dramatically reducing our impact on the environment and McDonalds carbon footprint.

Steve Easterbrook, Chief Executive Officer McDonalds UK, said: From the outset, the environmental benefits of this innovative biodiesel development project were clear and formed part of our wider commitment to reducing the impact our business has on the environment wherever possible. However, we are also now additionally benefiting from significant cost savings.  By converting our own waste product to biofuel, we have helped insulate our supply chain against the spiraling cost of standard fuel.

Unlike other operators running environmentally-friendlier fleets on biodiesel blended with standard diesel, Keystones uses 100% biofuel. The fuel is manufactured from 100% used cooking oil from McDonalds restaurants with no added virgin oils, such as rapeseed or sunflower, ensuring sourcing Keystones biodiesel has no negative impact on agriculture or natural habitats.

Through the conversion of the Basingstoke and Hemel Hempstead fleets, Keystone will reduce its CO2 emissions by 5,795 tonnes the equivalent of taking 2,424 family cars* off the road each year.

Waste management company Wastecare collects used cooking oil each week from McDonalds 1,200 restaurants across the UK to convert to biodiesel for Keystones vehicles operating from Basingstoke and Hemel Hempstead.

Keystone will be launching a trial at its third depot in Heywood, Lancashire towards the end of the year.

*based on Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi (Diesel) emissions