We've just taken delivery of a Volkswagen ID. Buzz cargo van, and it's already earning its keep. If you're a London-based client — or anywhere within the M25 — you'll be seeing it pull up before long. No congestion charge, no fumes, and a very satisfying near-silence as it parks outside your office.
Why We Chose the ID. Buzz
We won't pretend this was a purely altruistic decision. The practical case is compelling. The ID. Buzz is exempt from the London Congestion Charge and the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charge, which makes frequent runs into central London significantly cheaper to operate. For a business that makes regular deliveries to clients across the capital — brochures, stationery, exhibition print, point-of-sale materials — those savings add up quickly.
But the environmental argument matters to us too. Print has carried a heavy carbon reputation for years, not all of it deserved, but some of it fair. Every step we take to reduce our operational footprint feels like the right direction. Swapping diesel vans for electric ones on urban routes is a straightforward, meaningful improvement — not a marketing gesture.
What It Means for Your Deliveries
In practical terms, very little changes from your side — which is exactly the point. You place your order, we print it, we deliver it. The van that arrives will simply be quieter and cleaner than the one before it.
Where it does make a genuine difference is on turnaround for central London clients. Without the friction of charge zones or the need to route around ULEZ boundaries, our drivers can plan more direct, efficient runs. That means:
- Faster, more predictable delivery windows for London postcodes
- No surcharges passed on to cover congestion or ULEZ fees
- A smaller carbon footprint attached to your print order
Part of a Longer Commitment
Ratcliff & Roper has been in business since 1946. That kind of longevity doesn't happen by accident — it comes from adapting properly rather than just going through the motions. The ID. Buzz is one piece of a broader effort to modernise how we work, not just what we print.
We've been investing in more energy-efficient press technology, reviewing our paper and ink supply chains for environmental credentials, and looking hard at how our sites in Barnsley and Sevenoaks can reduce their day-to-day energy consumption. Fleet electrification is a visible, tangible step, but it sits within a wider picture.
We're also aware that many of our clients — particularly larger corporates, public sector bodies, and charities — are under real pressure to demonstrate responsible procurement. Being able to point to a supplier with a genuinely lower-emission delivery operation is something that can help your own reporting, not just ours.
A Word on the Van Itself
We'll be honest: it's a handsome thing. The ID. Buzz has a retro-modern look that turns heads, and it carries the Ratcliff & Roper livery well. Our drivers are happy with it, which matters — a van that's enjoyable to drive tends to get looked after. Range is sufficient for everything we need on a standard urban delivery route, and charging overnight at our sites means it's ready to go each morning.
It's a small thing in the grand scheme, but it's ours, and we're pleased with it.
Delivering Print Across London and Beyond
Whether your office is in the City, Canary Wharf, or well outside the capital, Ratcliff & Roper handles deliveries from both our Yorkshire and Kent sites. If you'd like to know more about our print services or how we handle fulfilment, take a look at ratcliffandroperprinters.com.