Climate change is an issue which impacts all of us. Throughout ANM Group’s 150th anniversary year, our #ANMbeyond150 campaign is highlighting that now more than ever, we need to undertake measures to safeguard our precious environment and natural resources for the next generation.
 
At ANM Group, we have an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy that means we act sustainably and ethically in all that we do.
 
This is more than just corporate jargon. It means that we think about the influence our Cooperative has on the environment as we go about our daily business operations and support our members and customers.
 
‘Climate action’ is a term which can perhaps appear intimidating. But small steps can go a long way, and ANM Group have found that, more often than not, the right business decision can also have a dual bonus for the environmental. For example, throughout the pandemic, we have vastly expanded our options for online viewing and bidding. Not only has this increased accessibility for members and customers across the country, but it has reduced the CO2 emissions of our sales.
 
ANM Group are also taking more focused steps, making numerous investments within the Thainstone Centre and estate that are cutting our greenhouse gas emissions and improving our energy efficiency. Not only will these improvements reduce our environmental footprint, but they will future-proof our cooperative for years to come.
 
Solar panels and a biomass system installed at the Thainstone Centre mean that our heating and hot water is powered through clean, green energy. In addition, our company vehicle fleet is moving to a plug-in hybrid system, and we have installed electric vehicle charging points across the estate to support our staff and visitors who use electric cars.
 
These measures improve the efficiency of the inputs we rely on to run our business. But managing the impact of our outputs is important too, and we are making good progress towards operating a circular economy across the Thainstone estate. For example, water from our washing is used to irrigate the farmland on the site, and our sewerage is managed efficiently through a reed bed filtration system which reduces waste and acts as a natural filter, removing pollutants from the water.
 
Like any agricultural business, we are also taking steps to manage our waste more efficiently, with the installation of waste recycling and compactor facilities on site to reduce our landfill. And, of course, we use recyclable materials as far as we can – from the wrap we use to store bales, through to the cutlery we provide to customers in our restaurants.
 
Our efforts to increase sustainability are a continuing work in progress, but we are proud of what we have achieved so far to secure a more sustainable future for the next 150 years.
 
This is what the #ANMbeyond150 campaign means to us. Agricultural businesses are at the heart of everything we do, and we would like to hear from you on the actions you are undertaking in your business – no matter how big or small – to reduce your environmental footprint and secure the future of the agriculture sector for another 150 years.
 
Why not get in touch and share your thoughts? You can contact us at: marketing@anmgroup.co.uk.