East of England Co-op has achieved an 11% fall in CO2 emissions across its 230-strong estate over the past year, thanks to a raft of sustainability measures.
The progress was driven by a 6% decrease in grid electricity use and lowering fugitive emissions from refrigerants, according to the society, which operates food, funeralcare and travel branches.
One of the key contributing factors was the installation of additional solar panels, including on seven food stores.
Its Woodbridge Road food store is also home to the retailer’s first-ever solar carports, which are dual-purpose structures that provide shelter for vehicles while generating clean, renewable energy from the sun.
The carports alone will create the same amount of energy needed to power 13 average UK homes for a year, according to the society.
East of England Co-op also refurbished eight of its 124 food stores as part of the efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, including the introduction of eco-friendly lighting and refrigeration.
These stores have reduced their energy consumption by 29% on average as a result.
The retailer also signed a landmark 10-year Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) with German energy company RWE. This agreement ensures supply of renewable electricity from the London Array offshore wind farm in the outer Thames Estuary.
The contract is now providing clean energy covering 32% of East of England Co-op’s current annual electricity demand, reducing CO2 emissions by 2,000 tonnes.
“Sustainability is at the heart of how we design and develop our food stores,” said East of England Co-op head of sustainability Steven Fendley. From the energy-efficient systems we install to the renewable energy we now source, we’re making tangible progress towards reducing our environmental impact.
”These improvements are not just good for the planet; they also help us build a more resilient and responsible business for the future.”
East of England Co-op CEO Andy Rigby said: “Making business decisions with sustainability in mind doesn’t only make good sense for our planet. It makes great financial sense as reducing your carbon footprint often goes hand-in-hand with lowering business overheads.
“The East of England Co-op has been working hard to improve its profitability, and we’ve achieved a financial turnaround over the past few years. We have made this happen by streamlining many elements of the business and that has included future-proofing our stores. Sustainability is a priority for us, and it is integrated into every area of our business.”
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