Press release -
Costa Coffee Wins Evening Standard 'Corporate Citizen of the Year' Award
30th June 2017, London: Costa Coffee was last night awarded ‘Corporate Citizen of the Year’ at the London Evening Standard Business Awards 2017.
Speaking about the awards George Osborne, Editor of the Evening Standard, explained that the awards form a “celebration of London’s enterprising spirit and continuing passion for innovation and progress”.
Costa operates more than 2,000 stores in the UK, with an additional c.1,000 overseas. As the growth strategy progresses, Costa continuously challenges employees to embed sustainable thinking throughout the business and ensure that energy and environmental impact is managed effectively.
The Evening Standard said: “[Costa has] cut energy consumption by 38% in recent years and in February declared that it would launch a scheme to recycle paper cups nationwide”. Costa is also offering 25p off a hot or cold drink for customers that bring a reusable cup into stores.
In addition to embedding sustainable practice into everyday operations, Costa is committed to making a meaningful contribution to its customers and local communities. Volunteering over 10,000 hours to community initiatives, both in and out of stores, Costa teams regularly take part in litter picks, literacy and education programmes and supporting local events amongst other activities.
The judges especially praised Costa for “doggedly looking at its own sustainability and leading the sector in its environmental activity” and felt that the company had “taken a great leap forward”.
Victoria Moorhouse, Head of Sustainability at Costa Coffee, said: “We’re delighted to receive this award and that Costa has been recognised for it’s efforts to incorporate sustainable practices into everyday business operations. It’s very much part of the way we operate and our teams across the UK are really engaged in supporting the various initiatives, from cup recycling to community activities.”
To learn more about Costa, and parent company Whitbread’s, sustainability initiatives, please see the Whitbread 2016/17 Sustainability Report.
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About Costa
Costa is the UK’s favourite coffee shop, having been awarded “Best Branded Coffee Shop Chain in the UK and Ireland" by Allegra Strategies for seven years running (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016).
With 2,000 coffee shops in the UK and more than 1,180 in 30 overseas markets, Costa is the fastest growing coffee shop business in the UK. Founded in London by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa in 1971, Costa has become the UK’s favourite coffee shop chain and diversified into both the at-home and gourmet self-serve markets.
Costa is committed to looking after coffee-growers. That's why we've established The Costa Foundation, a registered charity. The Costa Foundation's aims are to relieve poverty, advance education and the health and environment of coffee-growing communities around the world. So far, The Costa Foundation has funded the building of 53 schools and improved the social and economic welfare of coffee-growing communities.
Costa is also committed to tackling the UK’s literacy challenge and is proud to have signed the Vision for Literacy Business Pledge 2016. In continuation of this commitment, and inspired by the Costa Book Awards and the ongoing work of the Costa Foundation, Costa launched its inaugural Reading Week in September 2016 in conjunction with over 500 schools across the UK.
