Sustainability in every step

Lincolnshire Co-op is a purpose-driven co-operative, striving to make life better in our communities. Our business strategy, Purpose Beyond Profit 2030, outlines how we work to achieve that, and a key pillar within this is looking after our local environment.

Our Environment Sustainability Strategy details exactly how Lincolnshire Co-op will continue to look after the local environment for years to come.

In the last year, we’ve made some significant investments to reduce our impact on the environment. For example, we’ve committed over £2m into solar panels, £8.5m into wind energy, and have started rolling out ‘community units’ in food stores as part of our cyclical refresh programme, making recycling even more accessible locally.

We’ve prioritised sustainability for many years, and this has been showcased in community initiatives, such as clean-up events and colleagues taking part in employer-supported volunteering, the design of our outlets, including the roll out of energy-saving fridge doors in food stores and the widespread use of LED lighting, and much more.

However, our work doesn’t end here, and we’re determined to keep raising the bar. Our Environment Sustainability Strategy sets out three key focuses: waste management, climate impact and responsible sourcing.

We’re keen to find innovative solutions and work with our community partners to reduce waste. In coming months, we’ll be completing a full waste audit. Following this, we’ll be setting waste intensity reduction targets across all waste streams.

We are determined to reduce our climate impact, focusing on reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, optimising energy and water use. We’re striving to be early adopters in innovation that reduces our impact on the local environment and makes us more resilient against climate change.

We’ve set some ambitious targets in line with this, including a commitment to have 85% of our energy to come from renewable sources by the end of the 2030 financial year. By the end of 2045, we want to achieve overall net zero. This refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas that’s produced and the amount that’s removed from the atmosphere. It can be achieved through a combination of emission reduction and emission removal. (Source: National Grid)

Our commitment to ethical sourcing prioritises ethical practices, transparency, and environmental sustainability throughout our supply chain. In practice, that means screening all suppliers and firming up our procurement processes.

With a robust strategy and ambitious targets in place, we’re ready to take meaningful steps forward and lead with purpose towards a greener future.