Green building block in the supply chain

French DIY and leisure specialist Leroy Merlin also uses CNG vehicles for its regional logistics – not a makeshift solution at all but clever and, thanks to biogas, almost carbon-neutral. An important green building block for the company in decarbonising the supply chain.

The day starts early for the CNG-powered Scania trucks working for the DIY chain Leroy Merlin. Source: Scania France

The depot of Transports Rautureau in Mortagne-sur-Sèvre, France, is still enveloped in the black of night as the working day starts for the Scania R 410 with CNG drive and its trailer, sporting the colours of the DIY chain Leroy Merlin. Like every morning, driver Jean-François David fills up biogas at Agricarbur’s CNG filling station just a few hundred metres away. “It was built by an association of local farmers who only offer biogas produced just 300 metres away,” explains David. He adds: “Colleagues claimed refuelling would take longer. But I was pleasantly surprised – it actually doesn’t take much longer than for a diesel engine. But then again the range of the vehicle means you have to refuel every day.”

Driver Jean-François David fills up with biogas for the start of the journey at Agricarbur’s CNG filling station, just a few hundred metres away. Source: Scania France

His employer, Philippe Rautureau, head of the transport company of the same name, says: “Using CNG – and in our case biogas – meant we had to think about how to organise our routes.” Since 2018, his transport company has been one of the 120 freight forwarders working for the French DIY chain Leroy Merlin. “We handed over all the information regarding potential decarbonisation and our sustainable transport plan to our partner Leroy Merlin and they agreed to it.” Transports Rautureau invested in a total of seven Scania R 410 tractors with CNG drive, four of which are used for Leroy Merlin. The freight forwarder takes over 12 to 13% of deliveries from the DIY and leisure specialist’s warehouse near Angers.

One of the CNG Scania that transports goods for Transports Rautureau in an almost CO₂-neutral way thanks to biogas in the tank. Source: Scania France

In using Scania, Philippe Rautureau has also added a new truck manufacturer to its fleet. “Scania and its regional retailer Dian provided us with reliable advice and support. They also have a garage nearby, which was also reassuring for us in terms of support following the purchase of a new brand and a new drive technology,” he explains. As Dian’s technical advisor for pre-sales Christophe Danel recalls: “When Philippe Rautureau came to us, we had to take a closer look at possible restrictions and draw up a feasible route plan. We needed tractors with sufficient range. The CNG and biogas filling station network also had to be taken into account so as to be able to supply all 26 Leroy Merlin branches in the Anjou region – which is the largest in France. In addition, we had to estimate operating costs and take into account the drivers’ changed habits with Scania as a new addition to the fleet.”

Transports Rautureau has had very good experiences with the CNG vehicles. Source: Scania France

After more than two years of operation, the Scania R 410 with CNG drive is still running smoothly. The CNG trucks are impressive in terms of comfort and range – the latter being even better than originally stated. “Originally, we prudently calculated a range of 400 km, but the reality is more like 500 km,” says Danel, clearly satisfied. But what the Dian manager is particularly pleased about is how satisfied the drivers are with the CNG-powered Scania. As Jean-François David confirms: “Ever since I started driving this CNG-powered truck, I’ve had a lot of fun!”

The DIY chain Leroy Merlin also draws a positive balance and is pleased with the functioning circular economy. Source: Scania France

Nicolas Davril, transport manager at Leroy Merlin, also enjoys the smooth transportation operations using biogas: “We’ve been looking for freight forwarders in Angers who can and want to get involved,” he explains. “Thanks to our size, we’re in a position to build an entire sustainable ecosystem – including freight forwarders, warehouses etc. … in other words the entire chain.” In this way, everyone involved benefits from a functioning circular economy. The sustainable investment also had an impact on Transports Rautureau: thanks in part to the use of biogas trucks, the family-owned company has also been awarded the coveted Objectif CO₂ eco-label. (jas, 4 August 2022)