Central Co-op sets new standards in sustainability with industry-first initiatives

Posted by lauryn mellor | Published: 15/01/2025

Central Co-op has launched two industry-first environmental operations in collaboration with its strategic GNFR (Goods Not for Resale) supplier, Lyreco UK & Ireland. This partnership reflects Central Co-op's unwavering commitment to sustainability and is guided by its purpose to create a sustainable Society for all, benefitting its Members, colleagues and the environment.

Through these industry-first initiatives, Central Co-op has introduced more sustainable, safer and better-performing solutions across its retail, funeral and forecourt operations. Not only do these initiatives reduce environmental impact, but they also set a new standard for efficiency and safety in the industry.

A sustainable partnership: Central Co-op and Lyreco
With a shared goal to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices, Central Co-op's collaboration with Lyreco has been a key driver of the Society’s operational sustainability efforts. Since 2021, Lyreco, a leading provider of workplace solutions, has reduced the carbon footprint of its deliveries by transitioning to an electric van fleet, causing its fleet emissions to drop by over 170 tonnes CO2e between 2020 and 2023. This change is part of its larger goal to achieve net zero for all scopes by 2030. Lyreco also has aims to achieve 90 per cent of sales from sustainable products by 2026 - an ambition supported by rigorous assessments of their supplier chain, in alignment with ISO 20400:2017 guidelines.

With shared values of environmental responsibility, Central Co-op and Lyreco have worked together to ensure that products supplied across the Society's estate meet the highest sustainability standards. This collaboration resulted in two key initiatives introduced in 2024: Pro Earth and BioHygiene. Each initiative represents a significant step toward reducing the environmental footprint of Central Co-op’s operations.

Andrew Bryers, Head of Sustainability at Lyreco, commented: “"Achieving ambitious environmental targets requires businesses to take decisive action, and it’s inspiring to see Central Co-op leading the way by adopting innovative and sustainable solutions. The collaboration between Central Co-op, Bio Hygiene, and Pro-Earth – who were in our first Supplier Support Programme in 2022 - demonstrates the power of partnership in driving sustainability forward. At Lyreco, we’re committed to expanding our product portfolio with more eco-conscious offerings, and the unique solutions from Pro-Earth and Bio Hygiene play a key role in helping us meet that goal."

Pro Earth: A cleaner, simpler, greener solution for fuel spill management
The first of these implementations, Pro Earth, addresses a critical challenge across petrol forecourts: the handling of fuel spillages. Traditionally, sand is used to absorb fuel spills, but this method creates hazardous waste that needs frequent disposal. In partnership with Lyreco, Central Co-op introduced a six-month trial of Pro Earth’s ProCleanSorb, a natural peat-based product that replaces sand as a spill absorbent, across three of its petrol filling station sites before rolling it out across all 18 locations.

Harvested from certified Canadian Veriflora® sphagnum peat moss and sourced from carefully managed peatlands, ProCleanSorb is produced with methods that preserve the health of peatland ecosystems. In Canada, stringent regulations ensure that peat harvesting impacts less than 1% of the country’s bogs, while the resource itself renews at a rate 50 times faster than it’s used. Through responsible management practices, including replanting native vegetation for restoration, Pro Earth supports both ecological balance and biodiversity. This commitment to sustainability and restoration makes ProCleanSorb an eco-conscious choice that aligns with Central Co-op's environmental values, offering an efficient spill solution without compromising natural resources.

Unlike sand, which must be left on the spillage site for hours before cleanup to fully soak up the spill, ProCleanSorb can be swept up immediately, won't leach contaminants into the environment, and can even be reused on spillages time and time again. This reduces the frequency and operational costs surrounding both reordering product and waste collections, with Central Co-op finding that ProCleanSorb lasts around 12 times longer than sand previously used. ​As well as being kinder to the global environment, colleagues also reported faster cleanup times and reduced costs related to waste management.

The feedback from the three trial forecourts boasted improved efficiencies and easier physical handling, with one forecourt manager at Hallifax Road, Huddersfield, commenting: “ProCleanSorb is definitely the cleaner option to use. It soaks up spills much quicker and is a better product underfoot. Sand is more of a 'grit' and takes longer to soak up the spillage - heavier in weight when wet too. As ProCleanSorb can be reused, that does play a consideration against sand, and the drums we use for the soiled products don't get as full as quickly, saving on costs for having the contaminated waste collected.”

BioHygiene: Leading the way in biotech cleaning solutions
Central Co-op became the first major retail chain to adopt BioHygiene, a UK-leading biotech cleaning brand, across its 430 retail and funeral locations. BioHygiene products are formulated from natural ingredients and replace harmful chemical-based cleaners with environmentally friendly alternatives that offer superior performance.

BioHygiene has a mission to help businesses transition away from toxic, non-renewable cleaning chemicals, significantly reducing their environmental impact. Its products are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and are designed to protect both people and the planet​.

Central Co-op’s journey with BioHygiene began in 2021, when colleagues at two stores had raised concerns about allergic reactions caused by the previous cleaning chemicals and hand sanitizers. BioHygiene products are allergy and asthma-friendly, reducing exposure to harmful chemicals that contribute to respiratory issues and skin conditions. After trailing BioHygiene’s All-Purpose Sanitiser, the issues were resolved, enhancing workplace safety for colleagues and customers alike.

All BioHygiene products come in 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic, reducing the carbon footprint of packaging by up to 85%. This supports Central Co-op's commitment to cutting plastic waste and promoting a circular economy.

The trials demonstrated that BioHygiene products outperform traditional cleaning agents in terms of cleanliness and cost-effectiveness. Colleagues reported on BioHygiene’s superior cleaning power, removing stains that other chemicals couldn’t touch and had otherwise been deemed as permanent. This successful trial paved the way for BioHygiene’s full adoption across Central Co-op’s retail and funeral operations in 2024​, leading to a drastic reduction on the number of cleaning products in use - simplifying operations while ensuring high standards of hygiene​.

Central Co-op’s commitment to a sustainable Society for all
At the heart of these innovations is Central Co-op’s unwavering commitment to its core purpose: "creating a sustainable Society for all." As a Member-owned co-operative Society, Central Co-op operates with a focus on longevity, prioritising the needs of its colleagues, Members and the communities it serves. With ambitious goals to become carbon-neutral by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2040, the Society is leading the way in sustainability across the retail sector.

• Green energy self-sufficiency by 2030: Central Co-op is working toward becoming self-sufficient in green energy, further reducing its reliance on traditional energy sources.
• Net zero by 2040: Central Co-op is committed to reducing its carbon footprint through energy-efficient measures like implementing solar panels, LED lighting and enhanced refrigeration systems.

Central Co-op’s collaboration with Lyreco UK & Ireland represents a bold step toward more sustainable operations. Through innovative solutions like Pro Earth and BioHygiene, Central Co-op has demonstrated that sustainability and operational efficiency can go hand in hand. These initiatives not only set new industry standards but also reaffirm Central Co-op’s commitment to creating a sustainable Society for all.

For more information on Lyreco UK & Ireland, visit: lyreco.com/. For further details on Central Co-op’s sustainability initiatives, head to the centralcoop.co.uk/ or visit socials. Details on becoming a Member can be found at Members.coop.

ENDS

For press information
Central Co-op Press Office
pressoffice@centralcoop.co.uk

Lauryn Mellor, PR and Media Specialist at Central Co-op
lauryn.mellor@centralcoop.co.uk
07385 048004

Nigel Haywood-Jeffery, Strategic Account Manager at Lyreco UK & Ireland
nigel.haywood-jeffery@lyreco.com
07870 721345