UK logistics operators are struggling to decarbonize because customers will not pay extra for lower-carbon transport. At the Multimodal 2026 exhibition, industry leaders said high upfront costs for electric trucks and alternative fuels, plus limited charging infrastructure, are holding back investment. The UK has a legal net-zero target for 2050, but the gap between policy ambition and market reality is widening. Operators like Howard Tenens report that while they focus on efficiency and automation, passing green premiums to customers remains difficult. Without a willingness to pay more for cleaner logistics, the sector's decarbonization timeline will likely slip. The article highlights a core tension: regulatory pressure to cut emissions versus the commercial reality of cost-sensitive supply chains.
