Our focus on combating climate change has seen our direct greenhouse gas emissions cut by 40% since 2006, meeting our 2017 target six years early. We also continued our Clean Energy Revolution, a campaign to inspire the growth of co-operative and community-owned renewable energy projects and end the use of unconventional fossil fuels. We have reduced water consumption across our estate by 18% since 2008 and we reduced our waste by 37% compared to 2006, with 61% recycled or reused in 2011.
We are committed to protecting and promoting biodiversity and have achieved leading 2011 rankings in the Marine Conservation Society’s Supermarket Seafood Survey, and WWF Palm Oil Buyers’ Scorecard. Our market-leading pesticide policy saw us named as one of the two retailers doing the most to address pesticide use and contamination of food in the UK.
In 2011, The Co-operative Food was the first retailer to be awarded Graduate Status of the WWF-UK Forest & Trade Network. The award recognises our transparent reporting on the sourcing of paper and timber products, and our strong commitment to improving the sustainability of these sources.
Our Ethical Plan commitments include:
- Reduce gross greenhouse gas emissions from operations by 50% by 2020, compared with 2006; and generate the equivalent of 25% of electricity needs from renewable sources by 2017;
- Reduce water consumption across our operations by 30% by 2014 based on 2008 levels;
- Ensure that the vast majority of operational waste is diverted from landfill by 2013; and
- Maintain our position as one of the UK’s most responsible retailers of fish.
Read more about our Ethical Plan.