Environment

• In 2009, Nisa-Today’s is undertaking an environmental impact audit of its operations and producing an action plan for implementation, to reduce its impact on the environment.

• A member of the WRAP scheme for the past two years (a commitment with the rest of the grocery industry - to reduce carrier bag usage by 25%), in early 2008, the group committed to phasing out non-degradeable carrier bags from Central Distribution by the end of the year. This was achieved and all standard bags available through the group are now degradeable.

• Jute bag and bag for life concepts were launched for members in 2008 and plans are in place to introduce a Making A Difference - Locally bag for life that will retail at 99p with a contribution going to the member's individual charity fund. The Today's Group also launched a re-usable shopping bag for its wholesale members in 2008.

• Nisa-Today’s recycles cardboard and plastic packaging from its ambient and temperature-controlled warehouses – almost 500 tonnes recycled in 2007/8. It is also undertaking a trial for its North East-based members in January 2009 to collect cardboard and shrinkwrap from their stores on return journeys and recycle them on their behalf.

• Member Support Centre waste is segregated to reduce the volume of general waste going to landfill, with card, paper, plastic and metal all being recycled.

• The group’s ambient warehouse was built to the highest environmental specification and when launched in October 2005, was the first site in the county to adopt and operate a Green Travel Plan.

• The delivery fleet is fitted with telematics, allowing the group to replay routes to ensure that the most efficient journey times are undertaken, reducing wasted miles. The vehicles also run on bio-diesel and have Euro 4 engines, currently the most efficient and cleanest engines on the market.

• The Member Support Centre is equipped with considerable energy saving systems including energy saving lamps, daylight and movement sensors on lighting in open plan areas, PIR detectors on lighting in toilets and heat recovery exchange on certain items. There are also dual flushes in the toilets.

• The average CO₂ emissions across Nisa-Today’s fleet of 90 company cars is 158.2g/km, with 80% under the 160g/km Government-approved threshold.