Ocado cares
We strive to make shopping at Ocado better for you, better for your groceries and also better for the environment. By saving you a trip to the supermarket, we reduce the number of cars on the road, with each Ocado delivery van replacing up to 40 car journeys every single day. We introduced biodiesel 3 years ago, when it was deemed one of the most efficient fuels available. We are now investigating the benefits of biodiesel and other fuels in relation to their overall environmental impact. However, in the meantime, we'll keep working hard to source our biodiesel in a sustainable way, from growers in the UK.
We deliver straight from our state-of-the-art warehouse to your kitchen; this helps us eliminate the carbon emissions generated by traditional bricks and mortar supermarkets. We also rely on cutting-edge energy sources like CHP, to make sure our environmental impact is as low as possible. CHP stands for 'Combined Heat and Power' - this is a very energy efficient process because it utilises the excess heat that's typically generated in the production of electricity. What's more, with CHP, we don't lose as much energy during distribution as with other sources of energy. Because of all of this, our CO2 emissions are roughly half that of conventional power - that helps us do our bit to lower the carbon footprint of your weekly shopping.
We try to make a positive difference to our environment in other ways too. We are the only UK retailer who has invested in closed-loop carrier bag recycling. This means that when you return your bags to our delivery drivers, they take them home to our warehouse and make shiny new bags for your next delivery. What's more, our bags are also 100% biodegradable, so if you do ever need to throw one in the bin, you can be confident that it will not have a lasting impact on the environment. We'll also tell you when a van is already booked in your area when you book your delivery slot, so you can help minimise the carbon impact of your particular delivery.
We also have one of the largest organic ranges available online. Supporting organic farming helps maintain a healthy soil, supports farmland wildlife and limits the use of artificial chemicals, fertilisers and pesticides. And because we only stock quality Waitrose groceries, all our meat, eggs and milk are sourced from farms that meet the best standards in quality, safety, environment and animal welfare. Waitrose also puts traceability and provenance at the top of its buying requirements, which means we can trace every lamb chop or pint of milk back to its source.
Ocado Food Waste Awareness Week
Our newest initiative is to drive down consumer food waste. Did you know that up to 30% of food bought in this country ends up in the bin? Our unique business model means that, unlike other online stores, we can tell you at the checkout exactly how long your groceries will stay fresh. We'll even be printing expiry dates on your receipt so that you can plan your meals and make sure that nothing goes to waste. And because we print our receipts on 100% recycled paper, every part of your delivery is as green as possible.
Our environment is really important to us and we will continue to work with our suppliers and partners to minimise our environmental impact and promote good environmental practice wherever and whenever we can.