The bakery chain aims to have 250 of its shops featuring elements from this bespoke eco- format by the end of 2022.

Greggs, the largest bakery chain in the UK, has opened its first eco-shop to trail the store’s future sustainability initiatives.

The new shop in Northampton’s Great Billing, is a ‘brand new and bespoke format’ where Greggs will to test innovative solutions aimed at reducing the company’s environmental impact.

Sustainable intiatives to be on trial in the shop will focus on waste management, water reduction or overall energy reduction. This includes recyclable flooring, cistern-less and air assisted toilets, eco-ovens, heat pump air curtains and solar control glass.

Successful ideas and technologies from this ‘test bed’ will then be rolled out across the popular chain’s portfolio, which currently comprises more than 2,000 shops across the UK.

 The eco-shop launch is part of the company’s sustainability plan called the Greggs Pledge, which sets out ten commitments to help make the world a better place by 2025.

The sixth pledge is “building the shops of the future,” and the chain aims to have 250 of its shops featuring elements from this eco format by the end of 2022.

Change the world for the better

“We’re delighted to have launched our first eco-shop, in line with our Greggs Pledge and Net Zero commitments,” Tony Rowson, property director, at Greggs, said in a statement.

“As a responsible business we have a duty to our customers and to our planet to change the world for the better.

“Our new format gives us a platform to develop and test solutions to minimize our impact on the environment by cutting our waste, energy and water usage. As we continue to trial new and innovative sustainability initiatives, we look forward to making real progress in our goal to becoming a greener Greggs.”

Greggs and the vegan movement

Apart from working to reduce the carbon footprint across its shops, Greggs has also embraced the plant-based movement owing to its soaring popularity and better impact on health, planet and the animals.

The company made headlines in 2019 after it launched its now-iconic Vegan Sausage Roll, which initially sold out almost instantly.

The success of the vegan sausage roll inspired the chain to introduce several plant-based items. Currently it offers a Vegan Sausage, Bean, & Cheeze Melt, a Vegan Sausage Breakfast Roll, and a Vegan Ham & Cheeze Baguette with Quorn.

Earlier this month, Greggs upped its vegan options once again by adding avegan cajun chicken rolls and vegan ploughman’s sandwiches to its lineup.

The new products are currently being trialed in select locations.

• Read: New Zealand to tax burps of cows, sheep to tackle climate crisis

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