Waitrose uses racing car technology to make its shops more energy efficient
The Waitrose supermarket chain is to introduce a new design of shelf-edge strips which uses racing car technology to make its shops more energy efficient.
The retailer is fitting twin blades made of recyclable polycarbonate to the front of its fridge shelving to reduce cold air being lost into the aisles. The technology uses the same techniques that channel airflow more efficiently around racing cars to enable them to take corners at higher speeds.
Waitrose said the Wirth Research EcoBlade will reduce the energy consumption of the supermarket’s refrigerators by up to 25%. Customers will also feel warmer in the fridge aisles and it means there will be no need to install fridge doors.
Due to begin rolling out in Waitrose stores next month, the EcoBlade is the first in a number of projects that WR and Waitrose & Partners will be working together on as the retailer looks to find new ways to cut energy use.
Tor Harris, head of corporate social responsibility at Waitrose & Partners, said: “We know there is always more to do, but applying this design means we’re motoring forward in our efforts to reduce our impact on the environment. To deliver an energy saving of such significance through changing our shelf edging is fantastic and another example of how we continue to find innovative ways to achieve our goal to make our shops more sustainable.”
