Co-op claims Carbon Trust Standards clean sweep
The retailer has now been recognised for its achievements in reducing water use and waste outputs, adding to its previous certifications for lowering its CO2 emissions year on year and bringing down its carbon output in its supply chain, given to the company in 2011 and 2015 respectively.
Martyn Cheatle, chief executive of Central England, is thrilled with the new certification, explaining how Corporate Responsibility is at the heart of how the organisation operates.
“We invest a large amount of time and resource in delivering our CR strategy. Reducing our negative and increasing our positive impact on the environment is one of four key areas of focus for the society so we are absolutely thrilled to be leading businesses in achieving all four Carbon Trust Standards,” he said.
Paul Garton, energy efficiency programme manager at Central England, emphasises how the company has had to continually evolve in order to be as sustainable and efficient as possible.
“Gaining just one of the Carbon Trust Standards is a real accolade, but to get all four really shows our commitment to resource efficiency. Over the past two years we have invested £21 million on developing our portfolio to standardise specifications, improve efficiency and minimise waste.
“We’ve had to embrace new technology and think creatively in order to keep on improving which has led to some interesting sustainability initiatives working with local suppliers to deliver efficiency improvements through LED lighting, doors to refrigeration cabinets, automated controls, water management and colleague engagement.”
The Carbon Trust Standards, set up by the government in 2001 to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low carbon economy, recognise firms that are actively reducing their environmental impact and improving their resource management.
Darran Messem, managing director of certification at the Carbon Trust, added: Central England Co-operative has demonstrated impressive commitment to continuously improving the environmental performance of the business, which sets an example to others in the sector, helping to raise our collective ambition to take action on climate change and the other pressing sustainability challenges of the twenty-first century.”
