Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does Co-operative Group Limited score?

Co-op achieved 59% absolute Scope 1+2 emissions reduction from 2016 baseline, measured using GHG Protocol with DBEIS conversion factors and third-party verification. Consistent annual progress tracked in Co-operate Report 2023 with verified methodology documented in April 2024 Basis of Reporting.

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does Co-operative Group Limited score?

Scope 3 emissions (over 90% of total footprint) reduced 21% from 2016 baseline using GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain Standard. FLAG emissions quantified at 2.25 million tonnes CO2e. WWF Retailer's Commitment signatory. Full primary supplier data and category-level verification not confirmed.

Emissions Trajectory: How does Co-operative Group Limited score?

Scope 1+2 on strong trajectory: 59% reduction achieved, original 2025 target met by 2022. SBTi-validated 2030 targets (66% Scope 1+2, 58.8% Scope 3) set from 2016 base. Scope 3—the dominant source—remains 79% above target pathway despite 21% progress to date.

Energy Source: How does Co-operative Group Limited score?

Co-op sources 100% renewable electricity for all stores, offices, and funeral homes. From January 2023 stepped away from REGO purchasing toward credible instruments (PPAs or green tariffs). Fleet and operational heating remain fossil-based; natural refrigerant transition programmes underway.

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does Co-operative Group Limited score?

Signed WWF UK Retailer's Commitment (November 2022) with FLAG target (72% reduction by 2040). Committed £1 million to RSPB peatland restoration projected to avoid 40,000 tonnes CO2e. Soy and palm sourcing tracked against deforestation standards. No TNFD-aligned disclosure or quantified nature footprint confirmed.

Resource Use & Waste: How does Co-operative Group Limited score?

Food waste hit historic low of 15,151 tonnes (2023), down from 21,300 (2022). Operational waste diversion from landfill exceeds 97%. Lowest plastic packaging footprint per market share among UK retailers; 79% of own-brand packaging widely recyclable. Courtauld 2030 signatory with GHG reduction targets.

Water Impact: How does Co-operative Group Limited score?

10% water consumption reduction target by 2025 from 2016 baseline. As a retailer without manufacturing or water-intensive operations, direct water use is moderate. No pollution incidents or compliance failures found. Water is not a material hotspot for this operational profile.

Targets & Commitments: How does Co-operative Group Limited score?

SBTi Net-Zero Standard approval with ambitious targets: Scope 1+2 −66% by 2030, −90% by 2035; Scope 3 −58.8% by 2030, −90% by 2040; FLAG −72% by 2040 (all from 2016 base). Track record of early delivery: 50% Scope 1+2 target met three years ahead. Stepped away from REGOs January 2023.

Transparency & Accountability: How does Co-operative Group Limited score?

Published annual Co-operate Report, Basis of Reporting (April 2024), Climate Plan (April 2023). GHG Protocol methodology with third-party verification referenced. CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq chairs UK Government Net Zero Council. TCFD disclosure committed. Limited assurance level, no confirmed executive compensation linkage to sustainability KPIs.

Controversies & Red Flags: How does Co-operative Group Limited score?

No greenwashing rulings, climate litigation, or fossil fuel enablement found. Credible journalism documented supply chain animal welfare failures 2021–2022 (chicken, salmon, duck farms). These represent supply chain management gaps with indirect environmental dimensions (factory farming emissions). One-point deduction applied.

Co-operative Group Limited Sustainability Score: 50/100

Recently scored: Next plc, Target Corporation, Rapanui Clothing, SHEIN

515 companies scored·27 score updates this week

Co-operative Group Limited·Retail (non-fashion)·Manchester, United Kingdom·Founded 1863·Last verified 31 May 2026

out of 100

Making progressPending Review-7 since last review

Co-op has delivered measurable absolute emissions cuts across Scope 1+2 (59%) and met climate targets early, backed by SBTi validation. Scope 3 lags at 21% reduction despite representing 90% of footprint. Supply chain animal welfare failures and incomplete nature disclosure weaken its sustainability case.

No challenges currently filed

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale

Industry base impact

Retail (non-fashion) sector ceiling.

48 / 100

Performance score

Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.

67 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 48) + (0.7 × 67) = 61.3

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.82

Final score

Rounded. Making progress.

50 / 100

The ten questions

Where Co-operative Group Limited is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Energy Source (8/10, 8/10). Weakest on Water Impact and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (4/10, 5/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

6 of 12 sources are third-party verified or public record.

[1]Self-reported

Basis of Reporting 2023

2024

Q1Q2Q5Q6Q9

View →

[2]Third-party verified

Co-op Unveils SBTi-Approved Climate Targets Including Agriculture Emissions

2024

Q1Q2Q3Q8

View →

[3]Self-reported

Co-op Climate Page

Ongoing

Q1Q3Q4Q8Q10

View →

[4]Self-reported

Co-operative Sustainability Reporting — Climate Change

Ongoing

Q3Q4Q9

View →

[5]Third-party verified

Co-op Commits to Reducing GHG Emissions 50% by 2025

2024

View →

[6]Third-party verified

UK Grocery Giants Collaborate on Scope 3 Emissions

Unknown

View →

[7]Third-party verified

Co-operative Group Food Waste Statistics

2024

View →

[8]Third-party verified

Retail Co-ops Contributing to Protecting Environment

Unknown

Q6Q7

View →

[9]Self-reported

Co-operative Ethics and Sustainability Reporting

Ongoing

Q5Q7

View →

[10]Self-reported

Co-operative Group Investors Reports

Ongoing

View →

[11]Self-reported

Climate Plan 2023

2023

View →

[12]Public record

Co-op Food Wikipedia

Ongoing

Q10

View →

If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.

Co-operative Group Limited in context

Where Co-operative Group Limited sits among retail (non-fashion) peers.

Among the 43 major retail (non-fashion) brands we've scored, Co-operative Group Limited sits 4th of 43.

4/43

Co-operative Group Limited's rank

Industry average

Industry low

Industry high

1Tiffany & Co.

2Pets at Home

2WH Smith

4Co-operative Group Limited

5John Lewis Partnership

7B&Q

11Wickes

16Marks & Spencer Group plc

16JD Sports Fashion

16Halfords

19TK Maxx

19Iceland Foods

19Waitrose & Partners

19IKEA

23Harrods

24Specsavers

25Superdrug Stores

26Wm Morrison Supermarkets

26Lidl

28Boots

28Hobbycraft

30Poundland

31Aldi Stores Limited (UK subsidiary of ALDI SOUTH Group)

32Tesco

32Robert Dyas

34Card Factory

35Asda

35Whole Foods Market

37Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc)

40Walmart

How this score has moved

Co-operative Group Limited's score over time.

Score history begins 4 April 2026.

As Co-operative Group Limited's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.

We're backfilling historical scores for FTSE 100 and S&P 100 companies over the coming weeks.

What's being contested

This score is not currently being contested.

Every challenge is published. We'd rather be corrected than wrong — that's the whole point.

No challenges submitted yet. If you have evidence that contradicts this score, you can challenge any question above — cite a public source and we'll review it.

About Co-operative Group Limited

Co-operative Group Limited is a UK-based retail cooperative operating approximately 2,400 stores across food retail, convenience, and funeral services. Founded in 1863 and headquartered in Manchester, it is one of the UK's largest food retailers by market share.

Founded

1863

Headquarters

Manchester, United Kingdom

Employees

~70,000

Annual revenue

~£11B

Company website ↗

Check the competitors

Related companies worth a look.

Retail (non-fashion)

Tesco

Direct UK supermarket peer with similar scale and supply chain exposure; comparable transition trajectory

View breakdown →

Retail (non-fashion)

Whole Foods Market

Premium grocery chain with stronger animal welfare standards; contrasts supply chain risk management approach

View breakdown →

FMCG / Consumer Goods

Unilever

Large FMCG supplier to retailers; reveals upstream supply chain accountability gaps affecting Co-op sourcing

View breakdown →

Track Co-operative Group Limited

We'll let you know when the score moves.

Email alerts when a rubric question is verified, a challenge is resolved, or the overall score changes.

THE SUNDAY RUNDOWN

Which companies moved this week, and why.

One email, every Sunday. Score changes, new research, the stories behind the numbers. Free.

No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.

HOW SINK STAYS INDEPENDENT

Readers and institutions support our work. Companies can pay to submit evidence we couldn't find. Neither type of payment changes a score.

Score a company Become a member →