Decarbonization of the transport industry continues, with battery-electric trucks as one way to achieve zero tailpipe emissions. In the food and beverage industry, transport is responsible for 19%* of all emissions.
Volvo Trucks joined forces with globally celebrated chef Marcus Samuelsson, who is the culinary force behind numerous international restaurants, to demonstrate how tailpipe emissions from road transport can be removed or kept to a minimum in the food and beverage industry.
Marcus Samuelsson set himself the challenge to prepare a gourmet meal with all the ingredients brought to his kitchen by electric trucks, or by trucks running on renewable fuels like biogas or biodiesel.
“This was the first dinner of its kind, and I’m super excited to be part of it. For this project I had to think about transportation as an ingredient, right? It’s a main character! That’s why I loved this challenge. Because once we do this, it’s going to push the industry forward. Hopefully one day, all chefs will write on the menu how the food was transported to the restaurant and that’s going to become a new premium,” says Marcus Samuelsson.
The menu featured miso-glazed cod, cabbage, crayfish, cucumber salad and a German Riesling wine.
The dinner ingredients collectively traveled approximately 2,700 kilometers by road, with 86% of that distance covered by electric trucks emitting zero tailpipe emissions. The remaining kilometers were managed by trucks running on renewable fuels.
“This campaign fits the Volvo brand perfectly – it makes sustainability in the transport business understandable and tangible by applying it to a restaurant meal – something that everyone can relate to, says Katarina Adamson, Head of Global Brand & Communication at Volvo Trucks. She continues: “The aim is to reach transport buyers in the food and beverage industry, as their decisions and demands can significantly influence the direction and pace towards sustainable transport solutions.”
The challenge turned out to be a total team effort, involving several food and beverage companies, growers and transport providers – who were all invited to the join the dinner served at a local restaurant in Gothenburg, Sweden.
About Marcus Samuelsson
Marcus Samuelsson, is the culinary force behind numerous international restaurants, including the acclaimed Red Rooster Harlem in New York City (where he notably served President Barack Obama). He is also an Emmy-winning television personality and accomplished author with a history of significant involvement in philanthropic endeavors. For this campaign, Marcus was challenged to create a world-class dinner with all the ingredients brought to the kitchen by electric trucks, or by trucks running on renewable fuels.
5,000 electric trucks delivered
Volvo Trucks is a global leader in electric and has sold more than 5,000 electric trucks to customers in 50 countries. Volvo’s current range of electric trucks consists of eight models tailored to meet a variety of transport needs, including city and regional distribution as well as construction and refuse handling. In 2024, Volvo had a segment share in electric in Europe of 47% (heavy trucks 16 tonnes and above) and the company also had a leading share in electric in North America.
Volvo’s three-path strategy towards zero emissions
Volvo Trucks drives the decarbonization of transport to reach its net-zero emissions target by 2040 using a three-path technology strategy. This approach is built on battery electric, fuel cell electric and combustion engines that run on renewable fuels like green hydrogen (produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity), biogas (Bio-LNG) or biodiesel and HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil).
* Li, M., Jia, N., Lenzen, M. et al. Global food-miles account for nearly 20% of total food-systems emissions. Nat Food 3, 445–453 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-022-00531-w
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