Sustainability time, read about the who and how: what are retailers doing to address environmental and social challenges they face, what help are they getting to implement good practice initiatives?
The Midlands Co-operative Society is claiming an industry first by diverting all food waste and packaging at its 172 food stores from landfill. The retailer piloted a landfill-free total waste solution at six Midlands Co-operative stores in April 2010, using
The Co-operative Group has been named Green Retailer of the Year at the Grocer Gold Awards for the second year running. The retailer beat off competition from a number of other businesses, including Tesco, at the event hosted by trade
What On Earth, an award-winning organic food manufacturer, is ditching the boxes on its organic pizzas this summer and and selling them in just the usual clear wrapping. According to the company, the move has been spurred on by World
Tesco has created an online hub for its suppliers to collaborate on reducing their carbon emissions as part of its target to reduce its supply chain carbon footprint by 30% by 2020. Working with an online community of sustainability professionals,
Ethical plasters, designed by students from Bushey Meads School, are going on sale in Co-operative stores today (1 June 2011). The One Careplast plasters are the result of a nationwide competition to design the next One product for Global Ethics,
Fairtrade campaigners, including Marks & Spencer and Waitrose, have contributed to a world record-breaking line of Fairtrade bunting to highlight a campaign demanding fair trade justice for West African cotton farmers. The Fairtrade Foundation hung a total of 3.3km (two
Fairtrade nut company Liberation Foods is adding peanut butter to its range of Harry’s Nuts Fairtrade nutty products, which feature the comedian Harry Hill. The new Fairtrade Crunchy Peanut Butter will be listed in 190 Sainsbury’s stores from June 2011.
Prepared meals company, Easy Bean, is claiming a first with the launch of two Fairtrade ready meals. The products – African Palava and New Mexican Chilli – will be available at 100 Sainsbury’s stores from 18 May 2011 and in
Department store Selfridges is launching a campaign to challenge the public to imagine a world with ‘no more fish in the sea’. The Project Ocean initiative is being spearheaded by the retailer’s creative director, Alannah Weston, working in partnership with
Greenergy, a privately-owned company supplying one fifth of Britain’s road fuel, has started producing biodiesel from food waste. In partnership with Brocklesby, a specialist in recycling edible oils; unsaleable food products such as crisps and pies, which would previously have
Sustain Lincolnshire, a programme led by Lincolnshire County Council, which aims to help local businesses become more competitive and reduce their carbon footprints, has developed a 10 Quick Wins plan for food and drink manufacturers looking to cut back on
For the first time 50% of UK eggs are now laid by cage free hens and more people than ever are choosing higher welfare eggs, according to Defra. The department’s latest figures reveal 45% of eggs produced in the UK
The Co-operative Group has signed up to support national charity FareShare and back its campaign to help communities relieve food poverty and reduce food waste across the UK. It has pledged to help the charity after a pilot with FareShare
The Co-operative Group is set to reduce the packaging of its own-brand cordial range by around 40% by moving from ordinary to double concentrate squash. According to the retailer, the move will not affect the taste or quality of the
Convenience store refrigeration specialist DCI Refrigeration has launched a test plant and training facility for the greener refrigerant, CO2. DCI has invested over £100,000 in the new facility, which combines a live convenience store and plant room plus a training
The Co-operative Group has been named the UK’s most responsible retailer for the fourth year running at the Oracle Retail Week Awards 2011. The judges were impressed by the depth of retailer’s commitment to being a responsible business and the
The Energy Saving Trust is hosting a free event on engaging the public in energy efficient initiatives at the Commonwealth Club in London on 30 March 2011. The Selling Green: Delivering what you promise follows the publication of Home Economics,
RAP claims it is launching its most revolutionary food packaging product to date at Pro2pac, which takes place alongside IFE, 13-16 March 2011 at ExCel, London. Its modified atmosphere carton food tray – MA Tray – is said to be
Fairtrade sales increased to £1.17bn in 2010, up from £836m in 2009, according to the latest estimates from the Fairtrade Foundation released during Fairtrade Fortnight (28 February to 13 March 2011). UK shoppers are continuing to embrace Fairtrade, which is
The Co-operative Group is launching a three-year corporate ethical plan, which it claims will spearhead its membership drive from 6m to 20m members by 2020 and help build a more sustainable economy. It includes operational carbon reduction targets, which it
Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy has called on governments around the world to work with private companies to ensure innovation in low-carbon growth is not hindered by red tape. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Sir Terry
Butcher’s Pet Care (BPC), a leading UK family owned pet food business, has opened a new manufacturing and distribution facility in the Midlands, which incorporates sustainable design features. The site has been developed in partnership with Gazeley, a global provider
Richard Gillies, director of Plan A at Marks & Spencer, the retailer’s programme for developing a sustainable business, is one of the headline speakers at the Lean & Green Conference, being held in London on 3 March 2011. The event
Tesco today pledged all its canned tuna will be caught by the pole-and-line method by the end of 2012. Tesco director for corporate and legal affairs, Lucy Neville-Rolfe said: “We’re delighted to announce we will be progressing to 100% pole-and-line
The Co-operative Group has announced today (7 January) it is backing the campaign to reduce the number of fish discarded in the seas around the UK. At present, half of all fish caught in the North Sea is being discarded
