Riverford say they want to do better than vague claims of social responsibility and make informed decisions about the important issues affecting us and our environment. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been supporting their business and getting my fruit and veg delivered from them for almost a year now.

That’s why I was shocked to learn that, despite claims of environmental concern, Riverford still chooses to make deliveries by van in central London. 

Passenger vehicles like vans are major polluters in London, producing significant amounts of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. But it’s not just what comes out of the exhaust pipe that’s the problem. Studies have shown dust from brake pads and tyres produces more of the most harmful kind of air pollution than vehicle exhausts — meaning switching to an electric vehicle isn’t the answer.

By contributing to congestion on London’s roads, Riverford are also making it less likely that people will feel safe cycling in the city. With so many of vehicles on the road, it’s no wonder that in 2020, two-thirds of adults in England think cycling on the road is dangerous — the highest figure for more than a decade.

Another choice is possible: cargo bike. If we used them to their full potential, cargo bikes could eliminate more than half of all goods-carrying car and van journeys in cities. If that happened we’d all feel the benefits of cleaner air, calmer streets and less climate change.

As a business built on ethics and environmental sustainability, Riverford must lead the way and switch to cargo bike deliveries in London now.