Collaboration reaps sustainable rewards

Technology has a big role to play in our strategy on sustainability within our co-op. We all know that competition can be fierce in business, and technology is often used as an instrument to improve efficiency for profit and remain in-line with competitors. Not many businesses can afford to be left behind when it comes to technological advancement.

However, one of the beautiful things about sustainability as a department in our co-op is that it our team not only want to produce results for the business, but also for our planet. This connection allows us to see eye-to-eye with competitors and collaborate to improve on sustainability together.

It’s undeniable that the drive to reduce energy consumption as a cost-saving exercise in a harsh retail environment is a big motivator for many, including the East of England Co-op. However, by collaborating with other co-ops and businesses we have been able to see things from new perspectives and focus on both sustainability and commercialisation in equal measure.

That may sound scary to some on the face of it, but making business choices focussed on sustainability can in fact be cost-saving long term. We’re installing high-efficiency CO₂ refrigeration systems, and while they can come with higher upfront costs, they last much longer and use less energy. That means lower running costs as well as a positive impact on our carbon emissions. It can sometimes be difficult to take the leap and make the upfront investment, but the rewards were worth it for us.

We work with local companies investing in renewable energy, installing on-site solar generation where we can, looking beyond rooftops with the installation of our first solar car port canopies. Again, taking the long-term view, balancing the upfront cost against providing clean energy to our branches, lowering emissions and providing energy and cost security.

We also signed a landmark 10-year corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) with RWE with four other co-ops (Central Co-op (now Our Co-op), Lincolnshire Co-op, Scotmid Co-op and Southern Co-op). Together we were able to secure an electricity supply from renewable sources to over 400 locations across the UK. It’s a great example of collaboration – and the more that businesses can collaborate to improve on sustainability, the better. We’re excited about the next chapter of our Sustainability journey to ensure we use our resources to make a positive impact on the communities we serve.