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Wedge Group Galvanizing, the UK’s largest hot-dip galvanizing organisation, has achieved an 81% reduction in carbon following a successful trial of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil.

Huntingdon-based East Anglian Galvanizing Ltd, part of Wedge Group Galvanizing, has successfully completed a trial for the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as an alternative to diesel, which has slashed carbon usage by over four-fifths compared to the previous financial year.

The trial forms part of the Group’s long-term environmental strategy, aimed at identifying and investing in cleaner, smarter practices across its nationwide network of 14 plants.

Mark Hammond, Energy & Environmental Manager at Wedge Group Galvanizing, explained: “As a business, we’re on a journey to reduce our carbon footprint and we’ve already made significant achievements to date.

“From installation of Smart-Fire furnaces which monitor and analyze temperatures, heat exchangers which transfer waste heat back into the galvanizing process, and lagged tanks which retain heat – the trial at EAG is yet another advancement of which we’re hugely proud.”

By replacing traditional diesel with HVO – a renewable, fossil-free fuel made from waste plant and animal oils – the site has reduced its carbon footprint by 27.4 tonnes of CO2, according to the latest UK government conversion factors.

This latest development comes after the plant started rolling out gradual replacements of its diesel-powered forklift trucks with electric variants, with planned installation of solar panels later this year.

While the costs associated with HVO are slightly higher based on its price and overall reduced fuel efficiency compared with diesel, it’s a justified decision with clear environmental benefits.

Chris Woolridge, Managing Director of Wedge Group Galvanizing, added: “There’s no question that greener alternatives often come at a premium, but we believe this is the cost of making progress. For our customers, it means working with a provider who is actively reducing the carbon impact of their supply chain. For us, it’s an investment in a cleaner, more sustainable future.”

The success of the HVO trial at East Anglian Galvanizing means that HVO has been rolled out at an additional two plants, Scottish Galvanizers and Workshop Galvanizing where it is being carefully evaluated for potential rollout across other plants, alongside broader initiatives in energy efficiency, waste reduction and sustainable materials sourcing.

Chris added: “We’re committed to trialing new solutions, learning from them, and scaling what works. Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for us – it’s a core principle which guides how we operate and evolve with the needs of our customers now and in the future.”

Other significant investments have been made across the Group including low fume flux technology to remove particulates from the traditional ammonium heavy fluxes – which further removes the need for energy-intensive bag house abatement systems – plus LED lighting, rainwater harvesting systems, and site-wide electric vehicles and charging points.

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