Booths has installed 1,000 solar panels onto the roof of its central distribution centre in a sustainability move that will see CO2 emissions reduced by an estimated 114 tonnes per year.
It is expected that the panels will generate approximately 6 per cent of all the electrical power consumed by the north of England-based retailer’s Preston site, which contains its ambient and chilled distribution and manufacturing centre, and central office.
The annual output of the solar panelling is anticipated to be 223,074kWh.
It is estimated that the power generated will equate to the electrical energy used by Booths central office, and could essentially power all the central office functions including IT systems.
The installation by Styles & Wood Energy comes following the success of Booths' trial installation, which has been underway since 2011 on a smaller scale of 18 panels.
The significant £275,000 investment is the latest in a long line of energy and waste efficiency improvements by Booths, which won the retailer a series of sustainability awards in 2013.
These include introducing CO2-based refrigeration, air-sourced heat pump systems, and fitting doors to chilled retail cabinets to reduce carbon emissions.
A waste reduction initiative which is underway across all foods saved approximately £600,000 in lost revenue and 800 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2012.
Additionally Booths reduced packaging by 55 tonnes – estimated to save 91 tonnes of CO2.
Booths claims it is the first UK supermarket to map the carbon footprint of its supply chains, and make this information publically available.
The buying team use these findings to influence product sourcing decisions. Recent examples include cutting out almost all air-freighted Californian cherries, which means stocking 100 per cent British cherries during peak season, stretching the UK asparagus season and processing most of its prepared fruit in the UK.
Edwin Booth, chairman of Booths, said; “Sustainability lies at the heart of our business, from short supply chains to energy efficient stores build with green principles. Booths are committed to reducing our carbon emissions even further.
'The installation of solar panels at our central distribution centre will have important environmental benefits over the coming years.”
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