Somerset Wildlife Trust has unveiled symbol group retailer Southern Co-op as its newest addition to its corporate member scheme.
The appointment follows the Southern Co-op receiving the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development alongside another 30 organisations.
Most recently, the Co-op became one of the UK retailers to ban the sale of disposable barbecues last month.
Aligning itself with the Trust’s values and joining the scheme will support the symbol group retailers environmental sustainability strategy, alongside its mission to raise awareness of environmental and conservation issues across its member base.
According to the organisation, many of its primary targets focus on addressing the environmental challenges and range from reducing carbon emissions to supporting sustainable food-production methods.
“We’re delighted to support Somerset Wildlife Trust in its dedicated efforts to help protect Somerset’s wildlife and landscapes for generations to come,” Southern Co-op director of sustainability and communications, Gemma Lacey said.
“The Trust’s goals, to inspire people to take positive action for wildlife, reverse biodiversity loss and tackle the climate crisis, is perfectly in line with our values.
“Somerset Wildlife Trust joins a host of other Trusts we already support including Devon, Dorset, Hampshire & Isle of Wight, and Sussex.”
She added: “By working with these groups, we can support our sustainability goals to create space for wildlife, support nature recovery and help people benefit from a healthy, natural environment.”
Southern Co-op has been operating in the UK since 1873 and now has over 300 community food stores, coffee shops, funeral services, and natural burial grounds and crematoria spread across southern England.
Somerset Wildlife Trust director of fundraising and marketing Katie Arber concluded: “It’s exciting to join forces with an organisation built on celebrating community, with a long-standing vision to make a difference in the local communities it supports, including here in Somerset”.
