Climate impact

We are committed to minimising our climate impact by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, optimising energy and water use, and implementing adaptive strategies to build resilience against climate change.

As part of this, we want to achieve 85% renewable energy by the end of the 2030 financial year.

We’re working on...

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

• Improving energy management

• Managing climate change adaptation

• Reducing water use

Our achievements so far…

10GW of our energy supply is renewably sourced

We’ve invested £8.5 million into a Corporate Purchase Power Agreement (CPPA), showing our commitment to a greener future.

According to 2024’s figures, the wind energy purchased through the agreement will cover around 50% of our energy emissions for the next 10 years across all our outlets.

The wind energy is provided by London Array, a wind turbine farm in the Outer Thames Estuary that’s owned by energy provider RWE.

The contract is a partnership with four other co-operatives including Central Co-op, Scotmid Co-operative, Southern Co-op and East of England Co-op, worth over £40 million.

Fridge doors reduce energy consumption by around 27%

We first trialled these doors in 2013 and since then, have installed them at nearly all of our food stores, which puts us way ahead of most other food retailers.

We automatically fit them in new stores and during refurbishments.

Food stores transitioning to CO2 refrigeration

CO2 as a refrigerant gas is far less harmful to the atmosphere than other refrigerant gases.

We are currently installing CO2 refrigeration systems in new and refurbished food stores.

47 sites with solar panels

These panels enable us to produce our own renewable energy, and in 2024 we committed to investing £2.3m in installing solar panels on more outlets.

We are continuing to look across our estate at other sites which may be suitable for installation.

28 sites with electric car charging points

These are 50KW rapid charging points, meaning that the average electric car will get a 40-mile charge in around 20 minutes.

We hope to expand this further – not only by making electric charging available at more food stores, but also at our offices, warehouses, and other businesses.

New builds designed to encourage walking and cycling

All our new build stores have cycle parks installed and safe pedestrian routes to nearby public footpaths to help reduce car travel.

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) estimates that 57% of convenience customers walk to stores.

We believe it’s a similar picture for many of our outlets, which are in rural communities and are designed to give people a place to top up their shopping without having to drive to a big supermarket.

Improving energy efficiency

Across our estate, we’ve fitted energy efficient LED lighting and provided upgrades for modern variants through store updates.

Lots of our outlets also have a management system that regulates lighting and heating, and monitors energy use, flagging up issues if it increases unexpectedly.

Green Spaces Project

Each spring we work with community partners to take on a number of projects to help clean up, develop and revitalise community green spaces.

Additionally, each of our colleagues is given two days paid volunteering to get out in the community and make a difference, and many colleagues use this time to care for green spaces.

From litter picking to gardening, this hands-on approach means that our communities can continue to enjoy local nature.

Co-op Wood

The Co-op Wood was first developed in celebration of our 150th birthday back in 2011 and is maintained by Nettleham Woodland Trust.

Trees were planted and a pond was created. Not only does this site serve as a great home for an abundance of local wildlife, it's a lovely place to go for a walk.

Colleagues continue to get involved with volunteering at the site, and it’s fantastic to see how it’s developed over the years.

All information correct and up to date as of July 2025.