How we’re contributing to cleaner air

Cycle logistics for deliveries have been happening in the UK for over 100 years.

But in recent years, we’ve seen a boom in cycle logistics because of incentives to improve air quality and reduce congestion in our cities. Large brands including Ocado, Amazon and Sainsburys are expanding their fleets to include cargo bikes. For last-mile deliveries, they add flexibility for getting goods and services to customers.

Their use benefits not only businesses but also the health of residents. Petrol and diesel vehicles are the single largest source of both NO2 and particulate matter.

NO2 (Nitrogen Dioxide), is typically found where this is high vehicle traffic. Exposure to NO2 is associated with a range of health problems including organ and neurodevelopment during pregnancy, asthma in children and lung function decline in adults.

Cargo bike use in the waste sector is new. Zap is the first waste management company in the UK to provide business waste collections, using electric cargo bikes.

To expand our electric fleet beyond cargo bikes, we’ve been testing larger electric vehicles which can handle larger volumes and longer distances.

Traffic levels are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels, so now is the time to push on with the cargo bike revolution and prevent a return to air quality levels that contribute to 10,000 premature deaths each year in London alone.