Fourteen stores inclusive of the three pharmacies, Argent Funeral Care, Homemaker and the food outlets were all recently validated by the scheme which seeks to acknowledge local organisation’s commitments to helping Guernsey maintain a healthy, clean environment.

Keith Tapscott, an independent assessor for the award said, “To hold this award demonstrates that the management and staff at all levels of an organisation care about our Island’s environment, and have made a conscious and positive commitment to do all they can to Keep Guernsey Green”.

Each organisation signing up to the award is subject to an assessment which monitors the current actions and future commitments taken by the company to reduce waste, increase recycling, and improve energy conservation. The Co-operative Society made a particular effort to increase and improve awareness about environmental issues across its staff, adding information about energy efficiency on its E-Learning site and holding quarterly sustainability meetings.

Locale Operations Manager Kenny McDonald said, “The Society is delighted to receive the Keep Guernsey Green award; we are pleased that the judges recognised that the Society has robust environmental and waste management policies in place. The Society has always taken its commitment to the community very seriously especially in environmental matters, working hard to reduce the impact of its operations on the beautiful islands we live and operate in. This award would not be possible unless our aims and values were truly being upheld by our colleagues and we are delighted that this award recognises their significant contribution to playing a meaningful role in Keeping Guernsey Green.”

Minister for the Environment Department, Deputy Yvonne Burford, was pleased to see the commitment shown by the Co-operative Society across all of its Guernsey stores, “The Department was pleased to hear of the practices and policies implemented across the various Co-op stores to meet the Keep Guernsey Green Award standards. The Co-operative Society is an excellent example of the growing number of organisations in the island which are actively taking practical steps to reduce energy usage and waste.”

The award is open to any local organisation and is held for a period of three years.