The Challenge: Reducing Freight Emissions Without Compromising Service

Woodland Group demonstrates its commitment to supply chain
sustainability through pioneering multimodal shift from road to
short sea to reduce emissions, in collaboration with itsu [grocery],
which brings the much-loved itsu [grocery] brand to health food
shops & supermarkets nationwide inthe UK.

itsu [grocery] brings Asian-inspired, restaurant quality food for
a healthy lifestyle to retailers, guided by a mission to “eat beautiful.”
itsu [grocery] has made significant strides in sustainability,
which can be seen on their website.

To support their No Planet B goals, itsu [grocery] collaborated
with Woodland Group, a logistics leader dedicated to providing
data-driven, low-carbon supply chain solutions. Together,
the two companies work to ensure that itsu [grocery]’s growth
is decoupled from its environmental impact.

The Approach: A Strategic Modal Shift

A primary focus of this partnership has been the
decarbonisation of freight moving from Spain to the UK. Traditionally, this route relies heavily on road freight,
which is carbon-intensive. As a result, Woodland Group
transitioned itsu [grocery]’s freight from standard road
transport to a Short Sea shipping model. By utilising
maritime routes for the longest leg of the journey,
the partnership has drastically reduced the reliance on
heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

The Impact: Measurable Emissions Reduction

Woodland Group compared the emissions of a traditional
road-only model against the actual short sea solution
implemented for itsu [grocery] in 2025.

The shift to short sea freight has delivered immediate and
measurable environmental benefits. This move represents a
56% saving in emissions for the route, proving that strategic
modal shifts can halve the environmental cost of long-haul
logistics. The annual savings achieved in 2025 are equivalent
to nearly 15 UK citizens annual emissions (based on WWF
Footprint Calculator).

Alternatively, if we took the total greenhouse gases saved in
cubic metres, it would be enough to fill 4.8 Big Bens per year
(66,164 cubic metres).

Scaling the Opportunity: Innovation and Alternative Fuels

The success of the Spain-to-UK route serves as a blueprint from both organisations and a wider commitment to continuous improvement through exploration of the next generation of logistics technology.

Future joint efforts will focus on:

• Alternative Fuel Exploration: Investigating the use of biofuel and/or electric heavy-duty vehicles for unavoidable road freight, either directly, or via a Book & Claim model.
• Data Integration: Utilising Woodland’s carbon reporting tools to
  identify further modal shift opportunities across Europe and Asia.
• Circular Logistics: Finding ways to further reduce waste within the distribution network to align with itsu [grocery]’s 2045 Net Zero roadmap.

Through this collaboration, itsu [grocery] and Woodland Group continue to demonstrate that sustainable business practices and efficient global logistics are not only compatible but mutually reinforcing.

Ian Russell, Manager of Woodland’s Food and Beverage Division,
had this to say about the partnership:

"This collaboration with itsu [grocery] has been built on the strength
of two like minded teams working with a shared belief that meaningful sustainability progress comes from looking deeply into the supply chain, understanding its pressures, and finding solutions that reduce emissions without disrupting service. That approach allowed us to identify a lane where a modal shift could have real impact while maintaining the fast, reliable flow of goods that the food and beverage sector demands.”

“For both Woodland and itsu [grocery], this project reflects a genuine commitment to exploring every opportunity that supports the journey to net zero. Delivering a 56% emissions reduction through this initiative shows what can be achieved when sustainability is integrated into everyday logistics decisions rather than treated as an afterthought. We will continue working closely together to uncover further innovations for itsu [grocery] and for the wider portfolio of F&B clients we support.”

Rebecca Allen, Senior Sustainability Advisor at itsu [grocery], said:

"Working with Woodland has been imperative for itsu [grocery] to
make carbon reductions in our supply chain. At itsu [grocery] we are
committed to sustainability and working closely with our suppliers
to achieve our long-term ESG goals, one of which is becoming a Net 0 business by 2045. In our journey to reach this goal, we calculate our Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions annually, which Woodland have been excellent at providing accurate freight data regularly, as well as offering support and advice with the freight category of our scope 3 which has been so valuable to us. We are looking forward to continuing to work in collaboration with Woodland to make more steps towards a sustainable future.”