Nicola Fyfe, Europe VP for Amazon Logistics

1.     What are the biggest common sustainability challenges facing the whole logistics sector in your opinion?

Decarbonising logistics is a complex task, just as it is for many other industries. But the most significant sustainability challenge we’re all facing in the logistics sector is thinking about how to ensure there is sufficient clean energy available to power the electric vehicle fleets in our networks. With multiple sectors electrifying and decarbonising at the same time, we’re competing for the same limited resources and infrastructure upgrades.

Despite our continued investment in fast-charging infrastructure, together with the wider industry, access to public charging points at the scale needed for UK businesses remains a challenge – particularly along core transport routes in the middle mile sector.

Progress is coming, however, via initiatives such as the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme (ZEHID). And open-source tools such as CHALET (launched by Amazon a few years ago), are designed to help identify the locations where charger demand is most needed.

Looking to our operations, I’m optimistic and excited about our progress. We’re investing £300 million in the coming years in the decarbonisation and electrification of our UK transportation network – including in vital fast charging infrastructure capable of charging the 40-tonne electric trucks from 20 to 80 per cent in just over an hour.

Earlier this month we also announced a UK record-breaking order of new eHGVs (more than 140 Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 and eight Volvo FM Battery Electric trucks) that are joining our middle mile fleet over the next 18 months. Further to this, we also revealed that we’re expecting to transport more than 20 million products on the UK’s rail network this year, while continuing to innovate the ways we deliver to our customers doorsteps – adding urban walker deliveries with on-the-go re-stockable trolleys, to the electric cargo bike and electric van fleets our partners already operate.

These developments will all help take traditional diesel vans and trucks off the UK’s roads, avoid carbon emissions, alleviate traffic congestion and contribute to efforts to improve air quality. At Amazon we are committed to reach our goal of being net-zero carbon across our operations by 2040. And this month’s announcement is a major step forward for us in this journey. 

2.     And what are the hottest topics in decarbonisation of the logistics sector?

How we scale up eHGV usage across our industry is a hot topic, and one we’re leaning into. We’re increasingly focused on how we can weave together multi-modal transport methods, to further increase efficiencies and wider sustainability benefits.

Our move onto electric rail in the UK is a good example of this. For the first time, we’re now using the UK’s electric rail network at scale. We’re loading products onto train carriages on the electric West Coast Main Line between Scotland and the Midlands, then picking them up from stations close to local Amazon delivery and fulfilment centres– ready for sorting and packing ahead of customer deliveries. Products are also transported from stations and Amazon’s wider fulfilment network to ferry ports, to further reduce on-road traffic, while giving small and medium sized UK businesses easier access to European markets.

Our last mile roadmap is also really exciting, as the industry looks to bolster EV fleets with alternative innovations. We recently launched new on-foot deliveries across central London, with pilots developed in partnership with the London Boroughs of Hackney, Westminster and Islington. Delivery associates are now making customer deliveries on foot with carts that can be restocked on-the-go from vans dotted around the capital. This is helping Amazon make more zero-exhaust emission deliveries than ever before, with fewer motorised van trips. In fact, more than 70% of London’s Congestion Charge zone is now covered by electric vans, e-cargo bikes and on-foot deliveries, operated by Amazon’s partners.

The hottest topic is collaboration – how do we accelerate progress together by sharing learnings and experiences? A great example of how this working in practice is the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme (ZEHID), I mentioned before. Coordinated in partnership with Innovate UK, this research and development fund aims to increase zero exhaust emission road freight in the UK, through information sharing and part funding support to boost eHGV fleets. In our case, around 20 of the Mercedes-Benz trucks and eight Volvo FM Battery Electric trucks (from our record-breaking more than 140 truck order) had a proportion funded by the programme. And Amazon will be providing vital vehicle data and insights throughout its duration to inform and optimise the project on an ongoing basis.

3.     Do you think the UK’s net zero goals are realistic?

At Amazon we’re committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions across our operations by 2040, which aligns with the UK government's goals. By working together, we believe significant progress can be made towards these ambitious targets.

4.     What are the specific challenges faced by the different modal sectors?

Vehicle manufacturers are responding well to the electrification challenge – bringing increasingly sophisticated models to the market, such as the Mercedes- Benz eActros 600 and Volvo FM Battery Electric trucks set to join our UK transportation network over the next 18 months.

Now public charging infrastructure needs to keep pace to harness the transition and ensure the industry meets the UK’s ambitious (and world leading) decarbonisation targets.

5.     What are the best examples of positive breakthroughs you have seen in the last decade?

Cast your mind back only five years, and EV adoption across our industry was much lower. Today it’s commonplace for logistics operators to have EVs in their delivery fleets, thanks to the significant improvements in both the technological capabilities of the vehicles themselves, and the increasing availability of charging infrastructure. We are now at a similar tipping point for eHGV adoption, which is why we have made a significant investment with our record-breaking order.

6.     Who is an inspirational figure in logistics?

When you take a step back and consider the clear vision Jeff Bezos set out around 25-30 years ago, it’s evident to me what an inspirational figure he’s been in logistics. His relentless customer obsession drove innovations in logistics, automation, and last-mile delivery, setting new standards for speed and efficiency across the industry.

7.     With the growing emphasis on sustainability, do you see rail freight competing with road and air transport?

We see rail as part of the puzzle and are excited by its potential, when utilised in combination with broader transport methods. These ‘multimodal deliveries’ help us to further reduce traffic congestion and emissions. In fact, in addition to our recent move onto UK rail, in Europe we are operating more than 400 lanes powered by partnerships with various European sea and rail carriers that enable us to speed up customer deliveries and inventory transfers, reducing carbon emissions by almost 50%.   

8.     How do logistics companies deal with ‘first mover hesitancy’?

The logistics industry is often overlooked for its resilience and capabilities. Logistics companies are used to innovating, while responding to an ever-competitive market, peppered with national shocks, peaks and troughs.

While reaching net zero across our industry is a new challenge, we are responding. Progress is being made through our own smaller-scale pilots (such as innovating to create e-cargo bike and on foot deliveries), and also through important Government initiatives such as the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme (ZEHID). I see the sector shifting towards a more collaborative approach to de-risk investments in new technologies and infrastructure.

9.     What does 2025 look like for logistics decarbonisation?

2025 is going to be another busy year for us at Amazon, as I’m sure it will be across the industry. We will be focused on deploying the newly-ordered electric heavy goods vehicles, bedding in our new restocking-on-the-go walker delivery programme, while further integrating rail freight into our network. We'll be working to deliver for both our customers and the environment, making further progress in decarbonising our operations across the UK and Europe.

More from The Green Miles: The Big Interview - Jakob Andersen, CEO, Mash Makes - aiming to remove at least one gigaton of carbon from the atmosphere by 2040.

Published On: 03/02/2025 12:00:00