Haulier Browns Distribution has created a carbon calculator for customers as a means of increasing profits amid soaring fuel bills.

Clients of the 53-year-old firm can log on to its website to work out the environmental impact of their orders.

Director David Brown said the move could actually reduce revenues but he believes by increasing efficiency the company could boost profitability and attract environmentally-friendly customers.
Browns, which employs 80 staff on Ravensdale, Tunstall, has seen its monthly fuel bills rise more than £21,000 in the past two years, to £70,000.

Mr Brown said: "We have developed a system where customers can visit and look at their orders and we thought it would be useful to let them see the carbon footprint as well.

"When they enter the pallet details they can see the amount of carbon used in delivery.

"And they can see that if they increase the number of pallets in one order it stays the same, so it is more environmentally-friendly than sending seven loads, for example.

"It shows the customer a way of saving money. It might actually cost us money, but you have got to see the bigger picture.

"If I take a pallet a day to London it might cost, say, £30 a day, or £210 a week.

"But it might cost £100 to take seven pallets in one go.

"So the customer will be paying less than if they were sending one pallet a day, and it is also increasing efficiency. If that works, we are going to be making more profit."

The carbon calculator takes into account a delivery vehicle's mileage, load and fuel consumption to work out the amount of greenhouse gases produced.

A carbon footprint shows the impact of a person or organisation's activities on the environment, in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide.

Adderley Green-based trailer-builder Don Bur has also added a calculator to its website.

Browns' calculator was created by its sister company Haultech, which has created systems to help customers keep track of where their orders are on the road.

Mr Brown, whose late grandfather Albert founded the firm, said 80 per cent of its £7 million turnover now comes from online orders - which is helping it cope with soaring fuel bills.

He said: "We are trying to reduce every mile we travel and penny pinch where we can. If you don't go green, a lot of people won't deal with you at the moment.

"We wouldn't do this if we didn't get a benefit from it, but we believe this is something that will benefit us as well as our customers."

Keele University professor Andrew Dobson, of the North Staffordshire Green Party, welcomed the carbon calculator service and said more transport firms should look into reducing mileage.

He said: "Carbon calculators are good because it is an easy way of educating people about the effect they are having.

"It seems to be a very responsible thing to do. Transport companies should be looking to reduce the number of trips they do, so I think this is fantastic."