The John Lewis Partnership has signed an energy supply agreement, including a corporate power purchase deal, with Engie as part of the retailer’s drive to deliver its ambitious environmental targets.
The three-year contract will cover both John Lewis and Waitrose.
The CPPA will see the partnership use power from solar generators, providing the company with a fixed price for a proportion of its energy from known certified renewable sources.
There will also be an Energy Works funding allowance to support energy efficiency initiatives.
As part of this, Engie will deliver ISO 50001 accreditation – the international standard for energy management systems – for the Partnership, in a further commitment to support the retailer’s sustainable energy strategy.
The retailer has pledged to be net-zero carbon for its entire operations by 2050 at the latest, without purchasing carbon offsets.
This will include reducing energy from the physical estate by 25% by 2028, with the assistance of Engie, and 100% renewable, UK-sourced electricity across all sites.
John Lewis Partnership senior manager for commercial and supply chain Hugh Conway said: “The Partnership has had a strong commitment to minimising environmental impact for many years and we continue to challenge ourselves with ever-more rigorous targets.
“Engie’s proven expertise in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, along with the company’s ability to supply green energy, will prove invaluable in delivering our net-zero carbon aspirations.”
Engie’s divisional chief executive of energy supply Kevin Dibble said: “It’s great to be teaming up with a like-minded business that places a high priority on sustainability and protecting the environment.
“There is huge potential here to not just achieve great things for the Partnership but also to lead the way and demonstrate best practice to other major organisations.”