UK supermarket chain Asda announced yesterday that its sustainability programme has netted it £13 million in savings over the last year.

The Sustain Save Exchange programme launched in 2012 helps the supermarket and its suppliers share information and expertise in energy, waste and water efficiency through an online portal managed by the 2degrees network.

So far, a sixth of Asda’s supplier base, responsible for over £3 billion in products, are covered by the programme, which will now be rolled out across all 300 of its fresh, frozen and chilled product suppliers including household brands like Youngs Seafood, Warburtons and Cranswick.

Meanwhile, the supermarket, which has over 500 stores across the UK, says it has also reduced its overall carbon emissions by 17.7% since 2007, well surpassing its original 2015 target of a 10% cut. In the last year alone, Asda has reduced its carbon emissions by 4.3% despite taking over 150 stores from Netto.

The last 12 months has also seen a 5.1% reduction in emissions from Asda’s fleet of heavy good vehicles, totting up a 40% reduction since 2005.

“Since 2005, our work to minimise the environmental impact of our operations has delivered over £80 million in savings – which we have invested in delivering lower prices for our customers,” says Julian Walker-Palin, head of sustainability at Asda. “Now we can go even further, helping over 300 suppliers find efficiencies in energy, waste and water that can also help keep prices down.”

For further information:
www.asda.com/

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MS becomes UK’s first major carbon neutral retailer (7-Jun)
Asda’s sustainability strategy will save £800 million by 2020 (18-Nov 2011)
Sainsbury’s sets out stall for £1 billion sustainability plan (12-Oct 2011)

Article source: http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/5418/