DHL and Mars UK have announced the opening of a new state-of-the-art warehousing facility, London Thames Gateway. The opening marks the completion of Mars UK's new world-class logistics operation through a £350 million investment and partnership with DHL. The project will reduce Mars UK's logistics carbon footprint by 7.7 percent and remove a million miles from roads yearly, equalling 40 times around the world's circumference.
The new facility, standing at 42 meters, makes it one of the tallest distribution centres in Europe and features 3,700 solar panels, which produce 27 percent of the site's power usage. It has achieved BREEAM 'Outstanding' accreditation, placing it in the top one percent of non-domestic buildings in the UK environmentally.
The building helps Mars realise its ambition of creating a world-class logistics network that is sustainable, smart and agile. Its streamlined operations incorporate the latest automated pallet storage and retrieval (ASRS) technology. The Gateway facility also features High-Frequency charging of equipment resulting in up to 30 percent less energy usage, rainwater harvesting and LED lighting throughout.
The two new sites will increase Mars' UK warehousing capacity by over 50 percent. The location of the warehouses means it has strong transport links. Mars can streamline its product portfolio's inbound and outbound distribution, removing a million miles a year from roads. From Whiskas and Pedigree to Celebrations and Ben's Original, Mars UK transports over 1.2 million pallets of its products every year, which, stacked together, is the equivalent of shipping the height of Mount Everest every other day.
Completing the new facilities is a significant milestone in Mars UK and DHL's journey to a more sustainable future, showcasing their commitment to finding innovative solutions to reduce environmental impact in logistics operations whilst ensuring that Mars is well positioned to deliver their portfolio of products to future generations.
Adam Grant, General Manager, Mars Wrigley UK Mars, said that it was a significant milestone for Mars UK's logistics operations and a meaningful step in its sustainability journey.
"Over the past few years, our partnership with DHL has seen the completion of two pioneering facilities. Not only does this future-proof our distribution practices, but it also puts into action Mars' aim to create a world-class logistics operation that is sustainable, smart and agile," said Grant.
Saul Resnick, CEO of DHL Supply Chain UK&I, said this project with Mars UK further solidified DHL's belief that working with partners whose business and sustainability targets are aligned allows businesses to achieve the best results.
"This partnership does exactly that - it represents a great example for others of how businesses can work together to reduce their carbon footprint and create a more sustainable future. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Mars UK and supporting the company's future growth, " Resnick concluded.
