Southern Co-op, an independent retail co-operative operating retail, funeral and coffee services across the south of England, has had its net zero targets validated by the Science based Targets initiative (SBTi).
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a corporate climate action organization that enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to play their part in combating the climate crisis.

Southern Co-op has committed to reaching net zero by 2050 across its whole value chain, and direct business emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 2045, both from a 2019 base year. It also aims to cut its FLAG emissions, relating to the use of forest, land and agriculture within its supply chain, by 72% by 2050 from a 2019 base year.

Southern Co-op has also had its near-term targets re-validated by SBTi. These include a targeted reduction in direct business emissions (scope 1 and 2) of 50% by 2030 from a 2019 base year, and a reduction of 27.5% in supply chain emissions (scope3), also compared to 2019 by the same date. Also, to reduce emissions from use of sold products for fossil fuels by 63% by 2034, from a 2019 base year.

Chief Executive Mark Smith, said: “Having our net zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative represents a pivotal milestone in our climate journey. It reflects our commitment to align with the latest climate science and recognises our responsibility to lead by example with full transparency and accountability. More broadly, as a co-operative, it also highlights how we will look to the power of collaboration in helping to drive systemic change toward net zero.”

The independent co-operative previously reduced its operational carbon footprint by 22% between 2019 and 2024.

Initiatives to reduce Southern Co-op’s carbon footprint have already included installing LED lighting across its estate, airflow technology or doors for refrigeration, solar photovoltaic panels at 16 sites, replacing older refrigeration with more energy efficient equipment, and transitioning vehicle fleets to hybrid or fully electric vehicles.
In addition, earlier this year, Southern Co-op was a founding member of a collaboration with four other independent retail co-operatives to sign a landmark 10 year corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) with RWE (the UK’s largest power generator) to supply electricity exclusively from UK based from renewable energy sources.