Co-op opens an ultra-green store on Basingstoke housing estate

The Southern Co-op store will be on the Merton Rise Estate and will run entirely on electricity from renewable sources, with its fridges using EcoBlade technology designed to improve efficiency and reduce cold air being lost into the aisles.

The store will have LED lighting throughout, electronic shelf edge labels rather than the traditional paper ones, with digital screens displaying promotions rather than traditional paper.

The store also has a soft plastics recycling point in store and its single use carrier bags will be compostable.

Andy Thompson, store manager, said: “Within Southern Co-op there is a huge drive towards cutting greenhouse gas emissions from our business by 2030 so I’m pleased to showcase the part our store is playing in achieving these goals.

“There is also a continued push to make sure this store supports the surrounding community so we will be announcing a local funding partner shortly which customers will be able to support and there will be a food bank collection point in store.

“There is a particularly exciting project in the planning which we will be supporting shortly to help reduce local food waste.

“We can’t wait to tell people more as well as welcoming new faces through our doors.”

The store, in Wallingford Road, opens from 7am-10pm daily and includes Amazon lockers and an ATM.