Co-op receives environmental award for fourth time

Central England Co-op has scooped three Carbon Trust Standards awards for the fourth time for reducing its carbon emissions, waste and water use. The Society said it has showcased its ongoing commitment to the environment by achieving the standards, which are internationally recognised environmental certifications for reducing organisational water use and waste and carbon outputs.
This now means that Co-op is among the handful of retailers to hold all three of the standards, but the only supermarket to have the prestigious accolade. Central England Co-op said it secured the standards for a fourth time due to its long-term efforts to tackle sustainability across all of its business operations as part of its corporate responsibility strategy and its recent pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030.
These include:

• Reducing electricity usage by 51 per cent since 2010
• Reducing natural gas usage by 58 per cent since 2010
• Reducing refrigeration gas emissions by 69 per cent since 2010
• New stores use as little as 50 per cent less electricity
• Reducing food waste by 40 per cent during the past three years from 2,445 tons in 2017 to 1,085 tons in 2020

Hannah Gallimore, Corporate Responsibility Manager, said: “As a Co-operative, our ethical credentials mean we are brilliantly placed to do the right thing as a responsible business. We have reduced our carbon footprint by investing in green energy options and revolutionising energy efficiency across our society. Everyone involved with Central England Co-operative is delighted to have been re-awarded by the Carbon Trust for a fourth time.”
The Carbon Trust Standard is among the world’s leading independent certifications of an organisation’s environmental sustainability achievements, verifying progress across important areas including carbon emissions, waste outputs, and water use.