Amazon customers in Glasgow will receive packages delivered by electric cargo bike, as the ecommerce giant extends its fleet into Scotland for the first time.
The new Glasgow delivery hub, located in Baillieston in the east of the city, is part of Amazon’s £300mn investment in the electrification and decarbonisation of its UK transportation network.
Amazon will make around 2.5 million deliveries in the UK every year via sustainable methods of transport such as e-cargo bikes and on-foot deliveries.
The new Glasgow fleet is expected to deliver hundreds of thousands of packages across Scotland’s most-populous city next year, helping to take traditional vans off the city’s roads, alleviate traffic congestion and improve air quality.
John Boumphrey, UK country manager, Amazon, said: “The new hub in Glasgow will not only bring our Scottish customers more electric-powered deliveries, but also support the local authority in looking for ways to reduce congestion and find alternative transportation methods. We look forward to expanding our e-cargo bike fleet further in the months ahead.”
Amazon’s e-cargo bikes and on-foot deliveries are now operational from hubs in more than 20 cities across the UK and Europe, with UK hubs launched in London and Manchester last year.
The marketplace, which was recently rated as an Elite retailer in the RetailX Top1000 Europe 2023 Report, is working to clean up its operations. It reported that it is the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy globally and in the UK. In 2022, 90% of electricity consumed by Amazon globally was powered by renewable energy sources, thanks to more than 400 wind and solar projects around the world.
Furthermore, last year it announced its Moray West Wind Farm – with 350 MW installed capacity. It is expected to inject up to £500mn into the local economy throughout its lifespan, and during construction will create and support more than 1,000 jobs, with 70 long term operational roles.
The project also supports a number of local education and training goals, including transitioning of skilled workforce from the oil and gas sector, an apprentice programme, PhD sponsorships focused on environmental matters, and an intern programme.
Amazon is also a co-founder of and the first signatory to The Climate Pledge, a commitment to reach net-zero carbon by 2040. With more than 400 signatories, including more than 100 from the UK alone, the Pledge signatories are working together on initiatives to preserve the natural world and invest in decarbonising technologies.
Amazon Shipping are a track sponsor of the inaugural DeliveryX World this October. Find out more about the one-day conference here.
