The Co-operative bags BCSC Gold Award for Sustainability

The Co-operative Group has scooped the BCSC Gold Award for Sustainability at the retail property industry’s premier annual awards.

The Co-operative won the award for its work at Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester and its commitment to sustainable development of its food estate, as well as the environmental benefits of its BREEAM “Outstanding” rated new head office building, 1 Angel Square.

More than 1,000 guests attended the BCSC’s Annual Dinner and Gold Awards ceremony, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, which were hosted by comedian Hugh Dennis.

The BCSC Gold Awards recognise the industry’s most creative and innovative businesses, showcasing their work over the past year and bringing together the retail property industry.

David Roberts, The Co-operative Food’sDirector of Trading Property, said: “This award is a fantastic achievement for The Co-operative and it is great to be recognised by the BCSC for all our hard work.
“These environmental initiatives feature heavily in our new food store developments and with more than 80 new food stores launching this year, we are proud of the positive impact they are having on our sustainable development and growth.”

As part of The Co-operative’s ground-breaking Ethical Plan, its food store at Piccadilly Gardens was refitted in November 2011 to some of the highest achievable environmental standards to reduce its energy use and its overall carbon footprint. It features free heat recovery refrigeration systems that use the waste heat from the refrigeration systems to provide heating and hot water for the store.


Other features being rolled out across the food store estate include energy-efficient LED lights and fitting doors on fridges that save up to 40% of their electricity consumption and eliminate the need for night blinds.