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Kruger Energy offers eco-friendly logistics support to its Canadian tissue facilities

Kruger Energy’s two 100 percent electric semi-trailer trucks have started to carry materials and Cashmere, SpongeTowels and Bonterra tissue products, between two Kruger Products facilities in Québec. These are among the first all-electric class 8 vehicles operating in Canada, and the first in the Canadian tissue industry, according to the company.

The vehicles are branded with visuals illustrating Kruger Energy’s activities related to the development and management of renewable energy power assets.

“We are excited to take our first steps in transport electrification, a goal that aligns perfectly with Kruger Energy’s mission to develop renewable energy solutions that are beneficial to the environment and our communities. The data collected from the electric truck batteries will help further expand our expertise in energy storage, which is critical to renewable energy production. Also, we are already planning to expand our fleet of alternatively fuelled vehicles,” said Jean Roy, chief operating officer of Kruger Energy.

The two electric trucks will replace one standard diesel truck and will enable the company to reduce its GHG emissions by 380 tons of CO₂ per year, which is equivalent to removing about 90 passenger cars from our roads. Reduction of fossil fuel use will amount to 150 000 litres per year. The trucks are operating 20 hours a day, seven days a week, travelling at full capacity more than 1,000 km between the two facilities daily or 365,000 km each year.

“When we embarked on Reimagine 2030, Kruger Products’ sustainability strategy, we knew that we had to dig even deeper to find viable sustainable solutions allowing us to continue to grow as a business, while also shrinking our environmental footprint,” added Dino Bianco, CEO, Kruger Products. “These two electric vehicles represent the first of many steps we are taking to continue to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. As the leading tissue manufacturer in Canada, we have a responsibility to offer consumers and our customers high-quality products while also protecting our environment.”

The acquisition of these two trucks is only the beginning, as Kruger aims to electrify a large part of its fleet in the coming years. The company has ordered 50 additional electric trucks, of which 15 to 20 should hit the road within the next 24 months.

Early in 2021, Kruger Products was among the first tissue companies to sign the Canada Plastics Pact.