Neutral turns out positive

We’re saving millions of litres of water at our ‘water-neutral’ stores.

Water is a precious resource that we’ve committed to safeguard – which is why we’ve invested in three water-neutral stores.

‘Let it rain’ poster promotes Sainsbury’s rainwater harvesting initiative in a customer toilet

The trio of Sainsbury’s stores are our two ‘triple zero’ supermarkets at Weymouth Gateway and Leicester North – where we have zero operational carbon, waste and water – and our superstore at Dorridge.

The aim of water neutrality is to ensure that new development does not use extra water. The definition we use is in line with the Environment Agency’s and the government’s: that the total water use after a development does not exceed the total amount used beforehand.

Local partnerships

In practice this means that any water we use at these three stores – aside from that gained from rainwater harvesting – is offset by water savings at partner sites.

For example, at Weymouth Gateway, we use on-site water-saving strategies such as rainwater harvesting. Together, these strategies meet at least 70 per cent of the store’s water needs.

For the other 30 per cent, we sponsor water saving at the local Weymouth Academy and Wey Valley School.

25 million

litres of water saved at our three water-neutral stores each year, compared to similar stores in 2005/06.

By 2015, our three water-neutral stores were saving more than 25 million litres of water a year, compared to what they would have used in 2005/06.

As well as Weymouth College and Wey Valley School, we are also collaborating with the University of Leicester. Combined, these local partners are saving more than 18 million litres of water per year.

Water-saving opportunities

This partner saving – which they achieved following Sainsbury’s investment and support in identifying water efficiency opportunities – is roughly enough to meet the annual water supply needs of 120 homes.

The efforts of our water-neutral stores are helping towards our commitment to save 30 per cent of water in absolute terms by 2020, compared to our 2005/06 benchmark. This equals 55 per cent in relative terms.