Co-op's food and drink to be carbon neutral by 2025

The Co-op has unveiled a 10-point plan to help it become the world's first supermarket to sell fully carbon neutral own-brand food and drink by 2025.

This includes price matching own-brand plant-based foods to meat-based equivalents, and investing millions of pounds of proceeds from the carry bag levy to support natural restoration projects and carbon reduction research.

“We are facing a monumental climate change crisis entirely of our own making.” said Co-op Food CEO, Jo Whitfield. “We must recognise that we are in part responsible and that we have to do more and quicker.

“Now when our members buy Co-op branded products and services we give local causes a helping hand and we’ll be addressing the urgent need to tackle the climate crisis,, funding schemes worldwide to tackle carbon emissions and supporting reforestation in the UK.”

The 10-point plan also includes offsetting the greenhouse gas emissions of Co-op products and services, including its food and drink, to achieve carbon neutral status by 2025.

Moreover, it involves expanding the brand's Co-op Power wind and solar energy buying group to offer its services to Co-op’s suppliers and more UK businesses and organisations.

It has also called on the government to mandate disclosure of carbon impacts by businesses.

“This is a hugely significant year and the world will be watching as the UK government hosts the largest climate change conference ever,” Whitfield continued.

“Just as the government must be ambitious in delivering against its own commitments, we must all be bold and take collective action to tackle climate change.”