New DPD London Docklands eco-sortation centre enables clean, all electric online deliveries

Parcel delivery company DPD has officially opened a new £40 million eco-regional sortation centre in Bromley-By-Bow that will enable the firm to deliver up to 80,000 ‘green' parcels into London each day. 

The opening ceremony was performed by the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper.

The new facility, which is the size of 8.5 football pitches, will create 650 new jobs when fully operational early in the new year and will mean that DPD's delivery service within London's north and south circular area will be all electric.  

It is a hybrid eco-sortation and distribution facility. In addition to the parcel delivery operation, which will be DPD's greenest in the UK, the 430 metre long conveyor system will automatically sort all intra-London parcels for next-day delivery on-site, instead of them being trunked to the Midlands and back for sorting, as is currently the case.   

As part of being a diesel free operation, the site has solar panels on the parking canopy to help charge the 500 electric delivery vans and a 40,000 litre HVO tank to enable the fleet of LGVs and 7.5T trucks to fill-up with the renewable biofuel. 

The plan also includes the installation of solar panels on the main roof in the new year, which could generate up to 1 million kwh per annum to help power the entire building. 

Docklands will also see DPD achieve its pledge to deliver to 30 of the largest towns and cities in the UK with zero and low emission final mile delivery vehicles. 

Elaine Kerr, DPD UK CEO comments: "I am absolutely delighted to welcome the Secretary of State for Transport to our brand new Docklands site.”

“This investment represents another huge step towards our net zero goals and, I believe, demonstrates the new gold standard for a green parcel delivery operation in London, or any city.”

“It is also great to be able to share our vision with so many of our retail partners, who have backed us on this journey to create genuinely cleaner and greener solutions for their customers.”

"This represents a major milestone in our green journey. We opened the UK's first all-electric parcel delivery depot in Westminster almost exactly five years ago. Now Docklands demonstrates what is possible, on a much bigger scale.”

“But this is far from the end.  We are constantly looking for new and smarter solutions, as we demonstrated earlier this year with the roll-out of autonomous robot deliveries, and we will continue investing in green innovation to accelerate our decarbonisation pathway." 

Harper comments: "I was delighted to attend the opening of DPD's new London hub, which will speed up delivery times, create new jobs and support an important industry that contributes billions to our economy." 

2023 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

DPD is among the shortlisted companies at the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards.

It is in the running for our Supply Chain Innovation and Technology implementation of the Year (UK) gongs.

Our winners will be revealed at a fantastic awards ceremony, which will take place at the Barbican Centre in central London.

The event will be held on Wednesday, 29th November, maintaining its popular evening format, with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a Christmas themed three course meal, and awards ceremony in the Garden Room.

To book your place at this must attend event, click here.