As sustainability becomes a priority, what is HVO fuel and why is it a vital solution for businesses looking to cut carbon emissions?
At Events Under Canvas, we operate around 25 vans during our busy summer season (and we’re adding another exciting new addition to the fleet this year). These vans are the backbone of what we do – transporting structures, flooring, lighting, furniture and everything needed to create unforgettable outdoor events across the UK.
But they’ve always run on diesel. Until now. We’ve taken the step to switch our fleet over to HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil).
What is HVO fuel and why do we use it?
Made from certified waste rather than crude oil, it significantly cuts net CO₂ emissions.
One of our trucks on site at a tipi build last summer
So, What Is HVO Fuel?
HVO stands for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil – also known as renewable diesel. It’s a fossil-free alternative to traditional diesel made from waste vegetable oils and sustainable raw materials.
The best part is it can be used directly in existing diesel tanks and engines without modification. No new tanks. No engine changes. No complicated transition. It can even be mixed with regular diesel, which makes the switch seamless.
When we realised how straightforward the change was, it made us wonder why we hadn’t done it sooner.
Unlike traditional diesel, HVO fuel is produced through a hydrotreatment process that removes oxygen and impurities from waste-based oils, creating a clean-burning, high-quality renewable fuel. Because it’s manufactured from certified waste streams rather than crude oil, it can significantly reduce net CO₂ emissions compared to fossil diesel. It also produces lower particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions, helping to improve air quality as well as reduce overall carbon impact.
Switching to HVO Can Reduce Lifecycle CO₂ Emissions by Up to 90%
The Real Impact: Diesel vs HVO
If we continue using standard diesel, our annual emissions would be 80.4 tonnes of CO₂e (Based on approximately 30,000 litres per year).
To put that into perspective, 80 tonnes of CO₂ is roughly equivalent to the electricity use of around 50 UK homes per year, or driving a diesel van 13 – 14 times around the planet.
Those emissions go straight into the atmosphere and remain there, contributing directly to climate change.
Switching to HVO will see an emission reduction of up to 90% lower lifecycle CO₂ emissions.
Our projected emissions drop is from 80.4 tonnes down to around 8 tonnes.
That’s comparable to removing 30+ diesel vans from the road each year or the carbon absorption of roughly a 100-acre woodland.
What Does This Mean for Our Events?
Using HVO during our peak season (May – September) alone would reduce our carbon footprint by around 34 tonnes per year. That means roughly two-thirds of the events we deliver annually will now be powered using renewable fuel.
It’s a significant shift behind the scenes – one that doesn’t change how our events look, feel or perform, but meaningfully reduces their environmental impact.
For our corporate clients – many of whom track supply chain emissions carefully – this provides a measurable sustainability improvement.
For eco-conscious private clients and venues, it offers reassurance that we’re actively reducing impact where we can.
And for us as a business, it’s a clear and tangible step forward.
We’re not claiming to be fully green. Running large-scale outdoor events will always require transport, equipment and energy. But if we can reduce our fleet emissions by up to 90% simply by changing the fuel we put in the tank – that feels like a responsible move.
So next time you see an Events Under Canvas van arriving to build a stunning outdoor wedding or event, just remember –
It might look like a diesel van…
But it’s running on vegetables 🌿🚐