The Manchester-based Co-operative Group has saved £40 million by reducing its resource consumption and emissions, as part of the new ethical plan it launched 12 months ago.

Ahead of schedule, the Group has cut its operational greenhouse gas emissions by more than a third (35 per cent) on 2006 levels, and reduced its water consumption by 20 per cent. The £40 million cost savings are also based on a 2006 baseline.

In the last 12 months the Co-operative has lent £700 million to green energy projects and its commitment to certify 70 per cent of its developing world products as Fairtrade will be achieved by the end of March.

It has also installed green energy on its own sites and, having secured planning permission for its fourth wind farm at Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, its generation capacity has now passed the 30 megawatts (MW) mark. A new biomass plant, fuelled by waste wood, is in the pipeline.

Sustainable development manager, Chris Shearlock said: "These projects are in line to give us 25 per cent of our electricity requirement by 2017.”

Meanwhile, the Group’s energy-saving initiatives have focused on fitting glass doors to chilled food shelves in store, plugging fridge gas leaks, and re-organising logistics to minimise emissions from transport.
 
'Show the way'

Group chief executive, Peter Marks said: "Despite the economic downturn we have remained true to our pledge to show the way on corporate responsibility.

"The one million new members we now have bears testimony to the continued support we have had from our customers. It also helps that the savings that result from our environmental efficiency initiatives, nearly £40 million a year, are being ploughed back into the business to reduce costs."

The results have also been endorsed by the founder and director of Forum for the Future, Sir Jonathan Porritt, who said: "If you want to see what the 'green economy' looks like in practice, look no further."

New targets

The Co-operative’s 2011 ethical plan outlined a range of environmental and social commitments, including cutting carbon emissions, investing in renewable energy, selling more Fairtrade products and taking on thousands of apprentices.

The company has now revealed a further 53 commitments, including halving operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, generating a quarter of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2017, and reducing water consumption by 30 per cent, by 2014.

Posted under General Interest on 22 February 2012