Chiller doors are to be fitted in 2,000 Co-operative Group stores as the society stepped up its efforts to slash greenhouse gas emissions this week.

In a revamp of the society’s Ethical Operating Plan, the retailer said it had met its CO2 emissions targets for 2017 five years ahead of the target set last year thanks to a 35% reduction. It pledged to reduce them by a further 50% by 2020.

The Grocer has learnt that as a key part of the plan, all its smaller convenience stores will have fridge doors fitted, which will slash energy emissions by 20% per store.

“Trials have proved successful at a handful of our smaller stores in Manchester and we’re going to extend it to all 2,000, with 200 being fitted out in the next year,” said the Co-operative Group’s sustainable development manager, Chris Shearlock.

It declined to provide a definitive deadline for the remaining 1,800 stores. And it added it had no plans to extend the strategy to its larger stores.

Having also reduced water consumption by 20% in the past year, the society revealed a target for a further cut in consumption of 30% by 2014. Other green initiatives revealed this week included a campaign with Oxfam to champion small-holder farmers and co-operatives.

And the retailer also attacked other companies that have set much longer-term targets. “Tesco says it’s going to be a carbon neutral by 2050 but we’re all going to be dead by 2050 if we don’t do it sooner than that,” said Shearlock.

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