Howdens greens up with trailer refurbishment

It is a major project for both businesses, with Howdens taking significant strides in its commitment to sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) responsibilities.

The refurbishment initiative will see nearly 400 existing Howdens’ tri-axle curtainsider trailers refurbished over the next 10 months, extending their working life for a further 10 years. This project involves stripping each trailer, shotblasting the chassis and superstructure before repainting and mechanical refitting. To finish, there requires the fitment of new strapping, new curtains and TIP’s telematics system, TIP Insight.

With regards to the latter, it will mean that Howdens has an Electronic Braking Performance Monitoring System (EBPMS) for its trailer fleet, enabling the firm to comply with the DVSA’s guidelines regarding brake efficiency testing. The addition of TIP’s BrakePlus system will increase Howdens’ operational efficiencies, while enhancing the safety of the fleet on the road.

Purchasing new trailers for the whole fleet would not only have involved a large capital outlay for Howdens but would have seen a significant tonnage of CO2 emissions generated as part of the manufacturing process. The refurbishment option provides a more sustainable solution and it has been calculated that there will be an approximate saving of 3.9 tonnes of CO2 emissions per trailer by avoiding the emissions generated from the manufacturing process if purchased from new.

Markus Pretzl, head of ESG at TIP, said:

Using the expected lifetime mileage and scope of refurbishment of each trailer across the Howdens fleet, we are able to calculate the carbon dioxide savings for the business in taking the refurbishment route, as opposed to purchasing from new.

Further environmental benefits are being made by recycling all 400 sets of trailer curtains. Buckles and poles are being salvaged for the metal, while the curtains and straps are being cleaned, recycled and ultimately made into bags and accessories, avoiding approximately 60 tonnes of landfill.

Advertisement