Sainsbury’s has invested £2m into building a green energy facility to help it hit its sustainability targets.

The grocer is one of a number of investors ploughing £65m into the Tamar Energy venture which will generate 100MW of green power produced from organic waste matter.

As part of the deal, Sainsbury’s will work with their suppliers to ensure that they have access to the 40 plants being developed which will help reduce waste in the grocer’s supply chain.

Chief executive of the grocer Justin King said this was one of the key planks in its 20 by 20 Sustainability Plan.

The grocer revealed its plan to invest £1bn into hitting 20 corporate social responsibility targets by 2020 last October.

The Sainsbury’s 20 by 20 Sustainability Plan, which includes doubling the amount of British food it sells and cutting its carbon emissions by 30% of its 2005 levels, echoes Marks & Spencer’s Plan A programme.

Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King said: “We will be working closely with our suppliers to ensure they have access to the new plants to help them reduce the environmental impact of their operations. With the support of our suppliers we are very confident that this new venture will be a success, helping build Tamar Energy into the UK’s leading green energy company”.

The Duchy of Cornwall and Lord Rothschild’s Family Interests are amongst the other investors backing the scheme.

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