Cleaner Air Markets: Pioneering a future model for public markets

There is an exciting opportunity to reconsider how we service our public markets. At present, traders use polluting vans and cars to bring goods to and from markets in towns and cities across the UK. For years, this practice of driving goods into the heart of communities has contributed to local air pollution, congestion, and carbon emissions, adversely impacting the very people such markets aim to serve. 

Cleaner Air Markets: Pioneering a future model for public markets is an innovative study which examines how the traders of a working market were enabled to switch from their polluting internal combustion engine vehicles to trial zero tailpipe emission modes of transport, such as cargo bikes and electric vehicles. This report draws upon the findings of a 12-month pilot study which engaged with market traders and businesses with the aim of improving both trader sustainability and increasing market accessibility. The report additionally sets out how other markets wishing to develop and deliver Cleaner Air Markets can be empowered to do so. 

As this report demonstrates, Cleaner Air Markets are viable and could act as a catalyst for more businesses to adopt zero tailpipe emission modes of transport, in response to the essential clean air and net zero policies and programmes of city authorities up and down the UK.

You can read the full report here.

Shirley Rodrigues, London Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, said:  

This exciting new report shows that switching to zero-emission (ZTE) modes of transport leads to significant reductions in carbon emissions and air quality improvements. The Mayor is doing everything in his power to protect Londoners from toxic air; this includes expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone London-wide alongside London’s biggest ever scrappage scheme, worth £110million. The Mayor is also working to increase the uptake of electric vehicles in the capital as he works to build a cleaner and greener London for everyone, but he can’t do it alone. The Mayor and I are looking forward to seeing others follow the Cleaner Air Market’s lead and scale up similar initiatives across our city.

Hina Bokhari, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member said: 

This report shows that improving air quality and reaching net zero in the capital city is both possible and economical. I’ve led meetings at the London Assembly highlighting the opportunities that cargo bikes have for London’s street markets and small businesses because of examples such as Maltby Street market. Cleaner Air Markets are an exciting new future for London and beyond.

Stephen Joseph OBE, Trustee and Chair, Foundation for Integrated Transport said: 

Fare City and its partners have given traders at London’s Maltby Street market the opportunity to try out zero emission vehicles and the results are startling, with significant reductions in carbon emissions and other pollutants even from this small-scale trial. The report is genuinely groundbreaking and shows that there needs to be more incentives and support for small businesses in public markets to switch to zero emission vehicles. I hope it is read and followed up by councils, market organisers, and the Government so that more markets can become Cleaner Air Markets.