How Odido is taking the stores off the gas grid

Odido is making the majority of its stores more sustainable and is phasing out gas. The telecom provider aims to take responsibility and be a leader in the high street as a tenant. In this mission, tailored solutions are essential.

120 Odido stores

80 Stores to Go CO2-Neutral by 2028

95% CO2 Reduction Goal

By 2028, 80 of Odido's stores must be CO2-neutral. This step is part of a more sustainable business strategy in which the company aims for net-zero emmissions in its operational processes. In other words: a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. The telecom provider, which transitioned from Tele2 and T-Mobile to Odido last year, has been focused on sustainability for some time. The move towards CO2 neutrality is particularly noteworthy given that Odido rents all its stores. 'As a corporate organization, we feel the responsibility to care for the environment,'says Danitsja Eekhout. She and her colleague Esther Andriessen, who are involved in the sustainability initiative as retail construction & maintenance managers at Odido, add: 'For our stores, we aim for a 95% reduction in CO2 emissions. We hope other major tenants will follow our lead.'

Path to CO2-Neutral Stores

Odido has already cut emissions by half through relatively small adjustments. For instance, store doors are no longer left open by default, and LED lighting, sensors, and timers have been installed to reduce energy consumption. The brand is making its stores more sustainable overall to reduce (fossil) fuel and electricity usage. But achieving a 95 percent reduction requires more. That's where gas-free stores come in. This decision presented the telecom brand with two challenges: how to disconnect the stores from gas - a primary energy source on the shop floor - and how to manage energy consumption as efficiently as possible.

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The challenge is how we create the best possible climate for both customers and employees, with a sustainable perspective.

- Esther Andriessen, Construction and Maintenance Manager Retail Odido

pilot store

The Odido store in Alkmaar was already scheduled to move and was the first to be addressed. Like many of Odido's stores, it's located in an old building. Andriessen says: "The challenge is how we create the best possible climate for both customers and employees, with a sustainable perspective. Many of our stores have air conditioning systems that also provide heating. When these are outdated, we replace them with newer, energy-saving models."

The pilot store features additional sustainable modifications. An electric air curtain has been installed instead of one connected to a gas unit. This curtain is designed to keep the warmth or cool air inside the store. Although Odido prefers to keep the doors closed for this purpose, it is also a way to get the the store of the gas grid.

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For our stores, we aim for a 95% reduction in CO2 emissions. We hope other major tenants will follow our lead.

- Danitsja Eekhout, Construction Manager Retail Odido

Sustainable upgrades

In Alkmaar, insulation and HR++ glass were also chosen, key tools for sustainability.They contribute to energy savings and ensure a comfortable environment for employees, who are typically more present on the shop floor than in the back office. It would be wasteful to heat that entire area all day. Therefore, infrared panels have been selected for the back office. These panels heat individuals based on radiant heat rather than the entire environment and can be turned on and off as needed. The best practices from Alkmaar are being implemented in other Odido stores in the Netherlands. However, it should be noted that each store is unique and requires its own sustainability plan. It is a matter of customization. For development and execution, Odido enlisted a familiar partner: construction company Bulsink. The general contractor has long been a trusted partner for Odido's store renovations and has earned its reputation in the construction and renovation of stores, offices, and hotels where sustainability is a concern. The company has also worked on projects for brands like Rituals and Basic-Fit.

Sustainability push

"For Odido, we used the mission for CO2-neutral stores as a guideline and conducted a baseline of measurement for each store,"says Project Manager Harm Kempers from Bulsink. "We then analyzed at the store level how to achieve the goal for going gas-free and improving energy efficiency."

The general contractor provided a menu of sustainable solutions and targeted advice for each store individually. "The question in a sustainable initiative is often: where do you start?", says Eekhout. "Thanks to this approach, we have a clear overview of the best sustainable choices for each shop. In some, it's addressing the flooring; in others, the facade. This has unburdened us."

Preventing Energy Loss

Bulsink is accustomed to handling the challenges that sustainable solutions for stores can present. For example, sealing hard-to-reach gaps to prevent energy loss and finding solutions for energy-draining unused floors above retail spaces. Bulsink opts to 'cut off' the upper floor and apply insulation lower down. This way, the empty floor is being closed off and no longer part of the energy system.

Closing off top floor

Electric air curtain

Insulation and HR++ glass

Collaboration with property owners

In the assignment for Odido, it's also important to involve property owners, says Debbie Melis, Commercial Director at Bulsink. "Together with Odido, we're continuously in a triangular relationship with the property owners. For each store, we have the necessary consultations with them. Fortunately, they are usually willing and ready to collaborate and even participate, such as in the sustainability of the facade or other parts of the building."

So far, 5 of Odido's stores have been made more sustainable in this way. By 2028, 20 stores will be renovated each year. The telecom provider's mission is well underway, and it's setting a good example. Melis notes,"Other major tenants are now reaching out to us for sustainability enhancements in their buildings. This development has partly been triggered by Odido's sustainable initiatives "

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