// Co-op pledges to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2025
// It has already halved greenhouse gas emissions in the 10 years from 2006
// In the last year alone, it reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 20%
The Co-op has committed to accelerating steps to curb its greenhouse gas emissions as it backs global goals to limit warming to the most stringent of targets.
The grocer, which said it has halved its carbon emissions in the 10 years from 2006, has now committed to further reductions in its direct greenhouse gas emissions of 50 per cent by 2025.
READ MORE:
The Co-op said that in the last year alone, it reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent, which has become a driving force in its delivery of longer-term strategies to safeguard the environment and tackle the climate emergency.
Its action is in-line with calls for targets to limit global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees, believing the science-based target will further reduce the risk of extreme weather, sea level rise and habitat loss compared to a two degree goal.
The new pledge was backed by Co-op members at its AGM in May who voted overwhelmingly in favour of accelerating actions to tackle the environmental crisis.
Further changes planned by the Co-op include the use of natural refrigerants, and minimising the environmental impact of its products through responsible sourcing, such as its commitments to sustainable soy.
All Co-op stores, offices and funeral homes already use 100 per cent renewable electricity.
“The world is experiencing a climate crisis and we need to work together to avoid it,” Co-op retail chief commercial officer Mitchell Fletcher said.
“Accelerating action is the only way to mitigate and reduce impacts on our natural world, and to ensure stable food supply chains in the future.
“A rolling set of publicly-available and reviewed stretching, short term targets, are imperative if we are to hold ourselves to account to achieve our collective longer-term ambitions.
“Making sure that we have a natural environment we are proud to pass on to future generations needs action to be taken now.”
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
