Benchmark : Our own journey to zero emissions

3 June 2021

Our own journey to zero emissions

'While they can't do the job alone, electric vehicles have an indispensable role to play in reaching net-zero emissions worldwide'

Fatih Birol, Executive Director, International Energy Agency

Benchmark's mission is to enable aquaculture producers to improve their sustainability and profitability. We deliver solutions in genetics, health and advanced nutrition that improve yield, quality, animal welfare, and reduce environmental impact. As a company, we also need to demonstrate our commitment to a more sustainable future through our policies. Our journey to reduce company vehicle related emissions has now begun.

In 2020 vehicles operated by the company (excluding delivery vehicles) emitted almost 450 tCO₂e into the atmosphere. But change is underway.

Some time ago our colleagues at Tianjin INVE Aquaculture Company obtained our first electric vehicle. This year Benchmark Genetics Iceland joined the trend and added two electric vehicles to their fleet.

In Benchmark Genetics Norway there are also plans to replace two of their current vehicles with electric vehicles.

Finally, for now, a change in company car policy at INVE Technologies in Dendermonde will result in nineteen company vehicles being replaced with electric vehicles. This will be achieved over the next three to four years as current cars are replaced.

The International Energy Agency recently issued their 'Global Electric Vehicle Outlook 2021' report. In it they stated that over the last year, three million new electric cars were registered bringing the total on the world's roads to ten million.

Looking at current trends and policies it is estimated that there will be 145 million electric vehicles (including vans, lorries and buses) worldwide by 2030. However, we must endeavour to do better. Increasing our efforts to reach the more ambitious climate energy goals means there may be as many as 230 million. Even that is only a small proportion of the estimated 1.46 billion vehicles, producing 6 billion tCO₂e annually, that are currently on the roads.

If Benchmark can continue our current trend, the reduction in our vehicle related emissions will make a significant contribution to our own Net-Zero ambitions with an anticipated increase in our electricity consumption of less than 1.5%.

Improvements in vehicle, or perhaps more accurately battery, technology over the coming years will mean that electric delivery vehicles, that have sufficient range, could bring further reductions in our transport emissions.

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