Environmental
Booker is the UK’s leading food wholesaler, supplying approximately 305,000 catering businesses and 73,000 independent retailers. We operate from 172 cash and carry stores throughout the United Kingdom and operate a national delivery service. In January 2009 Booker was the first UK food wholesaler to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard, achieving a reduction of over 7,000 tonnes of CO2.
Booker Group plc (including Booker Direct and Classic Drinks) is this first UK Food wholesaler to achieve recertification of the Carbon Trust Standard for successfully measuring, managing and reducing carbon emissions across its network of 172 cash and carry branches, distribution centres and offices by 6,200 tonnes. We reduced our absolute footprint by 4% during a period of strong business growth. Although we have made good progress, we still have a lot of work to do and are committed to a more sustainable future for Booker and its customers. The Carbon Trust Standard certifies that an organisation has genuinely reduced their carbon footprint and is committed to making further reductions year on year.
These successes, some of which are described below, led to Booker winning the Grocer Gold “Green Wholesaler of the Year” award in 2010.
Information on some of our work in this area is given below organised under the following headings:
Customer
Booker believe their responsibility to the environment extends beyond our own business and into those of our customers. We continue to innovate by offering green services that support customers in running a more sustainable business themselves by eliminating the associated cost and difficulties. We offer a number of recycling services which reduce cost to our customers and ensure waste is managed in the most environmentally responsible way.
Packaging Recycling Service
Following the success of a customer packaging recycling trial in Booker Gorton we have now rolled this service out to a further 12 key branches. The waste packaging material returned by customers is combined with the branch packaging and returned to DC (using “carbon-zero” empty space on pre-existing Booker recycling runs). Customer response has been very positive for this industry-leading initiative that allows Booker customers to reduce the costs and inconvenience of infrequent waste collections and dramatically increase overall recycling rates within the wholesale channel.
Battery Recycling
Booker provide customers with an in-branch battery recycling point and also offer a battery recycling kit to support retail customers fulfil their legal obligation under the battery regulations. This helps the retailer demonstrate sustainability to customers and drive footfall by offering a local service. Since the start of the service in January 2010 we have recycled over three tonnes of batteries.
Used Cooking Oil Recycling
Booker has now helped customers recycle almost 54 million litres of Used Cooking Oil. As part of our drive to improve service we have given customers almost £5400,000 back as a ‘thank you’ and converted a waste product into a sustainable bio fuel.
We now have generators at both our Haydock and Hatfield distribution centres capable of using recycled cooking oil to generate green power. We can generate over 40% of site energy requirements, equating to a reduction of over 2000 tonnes of CO2.
Customer support and advice
As part of our service to customers, we keep them up to date on any changes to legislation that will affect their business and deliver solutions that minimise cost and promote sustainability at a community level. Forthcoming changes that we are supporting our customers on include the change to waste carrier licensing and carrier bag charging in Wales.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG)
Booker work across all areas of the business to reduce GHG emissions. This covers work on reducing gas, electricity and diesel usage. To help maintain this focus all sites have a Green Champion who is responsible for energy saving at their site.
Energy Usage Reduction
The new data gained from the installation of half hourly gas meters at all Booker sites in the last year has proved useful in colleague engagement and achieving reductions in usage.
Branch period league tables are issued and daily usage data has been presented at regional meetings. Branches are measured and targeted on a core set of KPI’s which include energy performance With renewed focus at branch, savings were made over the winter made by improving heating timers and controls. One branch saved 34 tonnes CO2 in a month with others around 19 tonnes.
PROPERTY
Branch New-builds
Booker believes that sustainability must be a real focus for branches: since 2005, our refit team has delivered major improvements on every new project versus the last:
These savings have been achieved through extensive use of energy-saving technologies such as:
- Maximum transparent roof area, light-sensitivity and occupancy controls; energy-efficient lighting
- High efficiency heaters, timing controls and re-circulation fans
- High thermal efficiency cold rooms wherever possible instead of less efficient refrigeration equipment (e.g. open “multi-decks”)
Branch Re-fits
The estates team have moved on to applying the same technology to our existing estate, in each case delivering a better customer environment coupled with significant energy reduction. For instance our branch at Northampton was refitted with energy efficient lighting, improved chill and frozen sales area along with light-sensitivity and occupancy controls. This work has given a 14% reduction in electricity usage saving 87 tonnes CO2 over a year, despite a 14% increase in opening hours following the refit.
Lighting Decisions
We have applied best practice from the conversions of our largest distribution sites in order to define a structured process for refits, ensuring the least cost, lowest carbon lighting solution is chosen through an advanced spreadsheet tool.
Distribution Centres
Our two largest regional distribution centres have been converted to energy efficient lighting in ambient and chilled areas - a saving of 76% of energy consumption, or 2000 tonnes CO2.
Green Electricity
In October 2009, Booker switched 100% of its electricity demand to an accredited ‘green’ source - all electricity supplied is now Climate Change Levy exempt. This contract also enables Booker to source electricity from local renewable sources via newly created “Power Purchase Agreements”. These agreements support local renewable energy producers (e.g. wind-farms and bio-mass) in securing finance for their projects by providing a long term market for their product at a better price.
FLEET
The efficient movement of stock is vital in delivering excellent Choice Price and Service to customers. In particular as internet sales increase we are working hard to make all deliveries more efficient and reduce our emissions from transport.
Rail
Booker continues to move goods by rail from the midlands to Scotland and has increased this over the last year, saving a further 42,000 miles and 60 tonnes of carbon. Future plans will avoid a further 724,000 miles a year equivalent to 1,000 tones CO2.
Distribution Efficiencies
The Booker team continue to look for ways to reduce food miles across our network. Changes to the network this year have saved over 270,000 kms or 244 tonnes of CO2. This is equivalent to taking a further two Booker vehicles off the road on top of the eight removed in previous years.
HGV Fleet
As part of a full fleet review, 110 new Euro 5 standard Mercedes AXOR tractors were acquired. These replace older Euro 4 equipment and are expected to deliver an improvement in fuel economy. Fuel performance will be measured by the installation of Microlise telematics system in all vehicles. This system accurately measures the fuel used by the vehicle and how economically the vehicle is being driven. This purchase is innovative in the fact that it includes agreement to work jointly with Microlise to trial new initiatives to improve fuel performance and reduce emissions. The first of these trials is now underway to assess the benefits of adding propane gas conversions to vehicles. Microlise also provides tracking capability and with a direct link to the Booker scheduling system allows dynamic re-routing to prevent empty running.
All fridge trailers were replaced during 2010 and the fleet now operates exclusively Carrier refrigeration, this is delivering a saving of 4% of gas-oil consumption and the resulting emissions.
Branch van fleet
Delivered sales through Booker continue to increase so we are working harder to reduce food miles and make delivery more efficient. Initiatives include driver training, 220 vans with speed limiters set at 62mph and an upgrade to our current GPS based fleet management tools installed in 84 vehicles with the balance of the fleet rolling out this year. This new system will work with the vehicle tracking system to lower CO2 emissions, improve driver behaviours and ultimately increase efficiency.
Saving Miles
Booker continue to collaborate with suppliers to find ways to reduce food miles from the total supply chain. This year we have maintained our industry leading-focus on minimising empty journeys and continue to save over 1 million kms (equivalent to over 1,200 Te CO2). An example of this work with Coca-Cola is available as an industry best practice case study on the IGD website, click here
Product Sourcing and Packaging
Booker continues to seek opportunities to make our own label products more sustainable through reducing packaging, eliminating waste and use of fair trade and farm assurance schemes. This year key areas include:
Re-Usable Meat trays:
In the last year, during the pilot with our largest meat supplier, we prevented 315 tonnes of contaminated card going to landfill, saved 74 tonnes in damages eliminating food waste from the supply chain. We plan to roll these trays out to our lamb and pork own label suppliers in summer 2011, removing a further 144 tonnes of card from production and landfill plus preventing further food waste.
Fair Trade:
Booker continues to expand it’s range of catering products that are certified Fair Trade, the Lichfield range currently includes coffee and coffee sticks, sugar sticks, hot chocolate, breakfast tea bags and caramelised biscuits, with the remaining tea lines from Chefs Larder and Lichfield moving to Fair Trade during summer 2011. This enables hotels and B&B’s to offer a Fair Trade welcome tray to their guests.
Red Tractor Farm Assured:
Red Tractor Farm Assured: The Red Tractor farm assurance scheme is used to ensure good standards of animal welfare on UK livestock farms. Booker has a number of own label products displaying the red tractor logo which includes all British Chefs Larder pre-packed meat, Chef’s Larder Premium Sausages, Chefs Larder Pork range, Lichfield milk sticks and butter portions, Happy Shopper cheeses and all Butchers Market chicken and beef products. Chefs Larder cheeses are due to move to Red Tractor standard shortly. We will continue to work to widen the products covered by this standard.
Packaging reductions:
This year we have continued to look for opportunities to maximise and reduce packaging. These include Chefs Larder sauces having the cardboard tray removed from the pack, and Happy Shopper Salad Cream, Tomato & Brown sauce moving to a shrink wrap and tray pack saving the cardboard wrap.
Waste & Recycling
Reducing waste and improving recycling is a priority to Booker. We are working to better manage our waste by diverting it away from landfill to more productive methods of disposal such as Anaerobic digestion and energy production, but most importantly we are focusing on preventing the waste from being produced in the first place.
As part of our commitment to prevent waste we have signed up to a voluntary industry agreement via the IGD to target the prevention of 75,000 tonnes of waste and the diversion of 150,000 tonnes of waste away from landfill by the end of 2012. For more information on this IGD initiative click here.
In 2010 waste sent to landfill reduced by 800 tonnes versus 2009 (12%). Waste going to energy production and recycling has increased by 700 tonnes (9%) over the same period.
An external audit of our waste and recycling operations has demonstrated that the work we do in this area has reduced our overall carbon footprint by more than 1000 tonnes. During 2011 we have ambitious plans to extend recycling services to customers and remove all food waste to landfill.
Booker support centres have recently had a drive on recycling involving the removal of all waste bins from individual desks. We expect to see an increase in recycling rates and a drop in waste to landfill over the coming months.
Elimination of Food Waste
During the last year we have worked on a number of supplier collaboration projects, along with Booker internal initiatives, to eliminate waste within the supply chain. These include new line and category review processes, supplier managed inventory, promotion and weather forecasting. The combined results of our work prevented 880 tonnes of waste during 2010. A number of these initiatives are showcased on the IGD website to help drive best practice throughout the industry, click here to see the Booker/Nestle collaborative case study.
Engagement
Green Champions
Each of our 6 regions has a ‘Green’ General Manager who promotes sustainability ideas and initiatives. At branch level we have identified one individual to become the ‘Green Champion’ responsible for energy saving and recycling.
Community
Booker is committed to working with and assisting the communities in which we operate. We do this primarily through improving the support and service we provide to our 450,000+ customers who supply communities throughout the UK.
- Each branch has a nominated local charity that they support and often supports other local events. In Cornwall Booker branches all support the local beach clean up events across the county providing free bin bags and gloves.
- Knowledge in energy saving was shared with a local community centre through a free energy audit with tips passed on for engaging the community to help bring down costs and carbon.
- Booker is active in the local community in sharing best practice at local level in order to help other businesses find ways to reduce energy usage.
Industry Leadership
Booker also actively contributes to sustainability initiatives in the wider industry for example:
- Booker were the only wholesaler with a seat on the DfT / Defra Low Carbon Transport Supply Chain Steering Group, which has developed and launched a standardised system allowing operators to measure, report and reduce CO2 consistent with Defra standards.
- Booker is co-chair of the IGD ECR Group which steers industry work to develop practical solutions to drive change in key areas such as sustainable distribution and waste elimination.
- Booker is a leading member of the IGD Product and Packaging Waste group that in the last year has launched the voluntary grocery industry target to totally remove 75,000 tonnes of waste from supply chains by the end of 2012. Plus divert a further 175,000 tonnes away from landfill to more productive uses such as anaerobic digestion.
Booker believe that investing time and displaying leadership in these areas is critically important in moving the industry towards a more sustainable operating model across the value chain.