FM Conway sets April deadline for diesel switch

FM Conway has extended its use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) across its highways operations and has set a deadline of next April to assess a permanent switch away from diesel.

HVO is a synthetic biofuel that can be made from re-used cooking oils and is a fossil-free source of fuel.

The fuel became popular after the government clamped down on the use of red diesel in April 2022 - effectively banning its use in many industries, including construction.

HVO provides a direct replacement for diesel with up to 90% CO2 savings as well as benefitting air quality through reduced nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions.

FM Conway estimates the move to extend the trial will save around 3,000 tonnes of CO2e through to the end of the current financial year.

Matt Tallon, sustainability director at FM Conway, said: 'We are already tackling embodied carbon through our pioneering material circularity approach, and this switch to HVO represents another step toward making CO2 savings and improving the air quality across all phases of the works we deliver.

'The extended run of this trial, until April next year, will give our clients a taste of what’s available and achievable - and how they can use it to accelerate their own decarbonisation journey.'