If 5G technologies were applied across the food and drink supply chain, they could save 37 million tonnes of CO2e equivalent emissions between 2024 and 2035. That’s the same as removing 78,000 delivery trucks from UK roads.
- Latest Vodafone research reaffirms the transformative potential of 5G Standalone technology to accelerate the UK’s progress on its Net Zero targets, particularly for the food and drink manufacturing sector in the ‘farm-to-fork’ journey.
- If 5G technologies were applied across the food and drink supply chain, they could save 37 million tonnes of CO2e equivalent emissions between 2024 and 2035. That’s the same as removing 78,000 delivery trucks from UK roads.
- However, this can only be achieved if mobile operators can invest in rolling out 5G across the UK at pace.
- The proposed Vodafone and Three joint venture will help to pave the way for UK 5G leadership, with a pledge to invest £11 billion and reach over 99% of the UK population with 5G Standalone by 2034.
5G technologies could deliver significant carbon savings across food and drink manufacturing from farm-to-fork, according to new economic modelling.
The modelling reinforces the environmental benefits of 5G Standalone (5G SA), particularly for key industries in the UK that are traditionally carbon intensive like manufacturing.
Technologies like Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and tracking systems can transform the way we manage food and drink across the manufacturing supply chain – from its origins on the farm, through to factory production sites and transporting the food on UK roads to our stores.
However, these efficiencies can only be achieved with the timely rollout of a 5G SA network. That is why, following completion of the proposed joint venture, Vodafone UK and Three UK have committed to investing £11 billion in the first 10 years as a combined business. This will help deliver 5G Standalone coverage to 99% of the UK population by 2034.
This critical infrastructure will deliver a far superior network that will allow us to build towards the UK’s digital future faster, facilitating the innovations needed to support the UK on its Net Zero journey.
The modelling conducted by WPI Economics for Vodafone reveals the impact that these technologies can have on decarbonising the supply chain:
- In farming, 5G-connected technologies, such as drones and sensors that monitor soil and crop conditions, could improve yields and significantly reduce the food waste produced on farms. By 2035, this reduction in food waste can correspond to carbon emissions equivalent to 6% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2022.
- On the factory line, 5G-enabled manufacturing technologies like remote maintenance systems, which reduce machine downtime, plus IoT tracking systems, which reduce electricity consumption required for cooling and storing goods, could all contribute to an 11% reduction in CO2e emissions in manufacturing by 2035.
- When transporting goods by road, implementing 5G technologies, such as Vehicle-to-Everything to improve the fuel efficiency of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) in the commercial distribution of food and drink, could reduce HGV emissions by up to 54 MtCO2e. This equates to more than double the UK’s total HGV emissions during 2021.
Andrea Dona, Chief Network Officer, Vodafone UK, said: “At Vodafone, we’re supporting many customers across the farm-to-fork supply chain to become more energy efficient through innovative technology like IoT and the Cloud. But we need the proper infrastructure to take it to the next level.
“5G Standalone has the potential to transform the UK supply chain, smoothing operations for suppliers and reducing carbon emissions. Vodafone’s proposed combination with Three UK will enable us to invest £11bn over the next decade, reaching over 99% of the UK population with 5G Standalone by 2034 and helping the UK’s agricultural industry decarbonise sooner rather than later.”
