Energy efficiency, being thoughtful with their carbon emissions and enjoying savings in their business from these sustainable efforts has retailer Pick n Pay making headlines in the green world this week.
With carbon emissions goals set back in 2010, Pick n Pay proudly shared their success with not only meeting them — but exceeding them — saving R508m since 2008, according to The New Age Online.
With a focus of furthering the reduction of their carbon emissions and getting even more energy-efficient in their stores, Pick n Pay has made an effort to avoid climate change by being conscious of their fossil fuel use by maximizing their energy efficiency.
The original target was to reduce carbon emissions by 15 per cent by 2015 — and Pick n Pay has managed to accomplish this goal a whole year early.
Pick n Pay sets and follows through with sustainability initiatives
Known as a quintessential family store, Pick n Pay is a retail giant in Africa. Looking great in green, this retailer has woven sustainability in their stores and business operations.
“For Pick n Pay, sustainability is more than just being a ‘green’ company, our approach is to ensure we become a more resilient company, through embedding sustainable practices in all our core activities and to share our journey with our customers, in order to assist them to also reduce their own impact on the environment through adopting more sustainable lifestyles,” says Pick n Pay on their official website.
They also take their carbon emissions seriously. In an interview with CNBC Africa, Gareth Ackerman, chairman of Pick n Pay and vice-co-chair of the Consumer Goods Forum, talks about the commitment of consumer goods retailers and manufacturers on their contribution to energy and carbon emission savings initiatives.
Ackerman is in the know when it comes to climate change, green house emissions and what’s going on in the world.
“The entire focus of the Pick n Pay group has always been to be doing the right thing for the environment — but to do it in a way that can actually reduce the cost of doing business,” says Ackerman, “And so all that we’re doing right across our chain — reducing our food waste, refrigeration, energy, all those issues…are designed to make sure to get our cost down but at the same time do a very positive thing for the environment.”
This sets a great example for retailers when it comes to achieving savings while reducing carbon emissions and taking on environmental responsibility — it really is sustainability at its finest.
Image credit: Pick n Pay
