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The UK’s biggest cargo bike logistics company, Zedify, has launched in its 10th UK city with a new and unique hub opening right in the heart of Birmingham’s city centre.
With its proximity to the ‘golden triangle’ of e-commerce warehousing in the midlands, the launch is a strategically important location for the sustainable, urban last mile specialist.
The surge in online shopping in the UK since the pandemic has led to a significant hike in delivery vehicles on the roads. So much so that the UK is predicted to take an additional £9 billion hit to the economy from congestion by 2030 and suffer a staggering 64,000 premature deaths from polluted air, each year.
According to the World Economic Forum, urban last-mile delivery carbon emissions are expected to rise by 30% in the top 100 cities globally by 2030 if current practices continue.
Birmingham launched its clean air zone (CAZ) back in June 2021, has more green space and parks than any other European City, but is still one of the worst UK cities when it comes to air pollution.
The launch is part of Zedify’s strategy to grow capacity across its network, with a goal to be in 50 UK cities in five years; in Birmingham, it will reduce congestion and emissions arising from last-mile delivery. Partnered with e-commerce brands and logistics companies including HelloFresh, Zara, Selfridges, Veja, THG, Evri and DPD,
Zedify’s service is over 80% lower CO 2 e than even deliveries using electric vans.
Zedify Co-founder and CEO, Rob King, said: “I’m delighted to be launching Zedify’s first midlands hub in Birmingham. As Britain’s second-largest city, this launch not only enables us to have a massive impact on reducing emissions arising from last-mile delivery but also provides a strategically important location for Zedify as we continue on our mission to be the UK’s first choice for sustainable urban deliveries.”
Zedify is a recently certified B Corp business and uses an innovative micro hub and cargo bike model. The new hub in Birmingham is located in a multi-storey car park, sourced in partnership with Decarbon Logistics, who specialise in helping logistics companies find flexible space in urban centres.
The Birmingham hub will serve areas spanning the city centre, Aston, Edgbaston and Selly Oak, and Zedify will be looking to grow rapidly thereby rolling out deliveries for its existing partners and for businesses across the city.
