The train, which made its first journey last week, transports Algida ice creams from the company factory in Caivano, near Naples, 435 miles to the northern city of Parma.
Three trains per week will replace Unilever trucks, reducing pollution and saving 40m Mega-Joules per year – the equivalent of the energy use of 4,200 families.
CO2 output will be reduced by 2,600 tonnes – the same as 260,000 trees and the train will benefit locals by reducing congestion and potential traffic accidents.
‘Game-changer’
David Beauchamp, VP of Logistics for Europe said the move was a partnership between Unilever, the Italian government and Italy’s main train operator Trenitalia.
“Traditionally, goods have been transported by road in Italy but this model is designed to be a game-changer. This initiative is an example of great collaboration with Trenitalia and the Italian Ministry for Environment.
“We hope that other companies in Italy can also adopt similar rail transportation approaches. This is not just beneficial for the environment but also for costs, we estimate that this will achieve a 6% reduction in costs per year – a win-win situation.”
Green Express is part of Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan, which could halve the greenhouse gas impact of the company’s products by 2020. So far, Unilever has reduced its CO2 emissions by 10% since 2010. The Caivano site recycles biogas from manure.
Unilever has an annual turnover of over $6bn. The company said its “vision is to double the size of the business, whilst reducing its environmental footprint and increasing the positive social impact.”
Algida ice cream facts
- Algida, the ice cream brand transported by Green Express, includes Magnum, Cornetto, Solero and Carte D’or.
- Algida means ‘icy’ in Italian. It is known as Good Humor in North America, Wall’s in the UK, and Streets in Australia and New Zealand.
- Algida was founded in Rome at the end of the Second World War when Alfred Wiesner, a Jewish resistance fighter, was given two ice-cream machines by the Allies.