Smarden Community Store – Champions at Going Green

At the awards

Among the many inspiring examples across our network, Smarden Community Store in Kent stands out. Through an impressive combination of renewable energy generation, waste reduction initiatives, sustainable transport solutions and community engagement, the store was named the winner of Plunkett’s Going Green Award at the 2026 Rural Community Business Awards.

Its success demonstrates how environmental responsibility can be embedded into every aspect of a community business, creating benefits for both the planet and the local community.

Solar panels on the shop.

At the heart of the store’s environmental efforts is a significant commitment to renewable energy. Its solar panel installation has generated more than 60,000 kWh of clean electricity, helping to power the business while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. More recently, the store has further strengthened its green credentials by installing three Tesla Powerwall batteries, allowing surplus solar energy to be stored and used when needed rather than going to waste.

By maximising the use of renewable energy throughout the day and night, the system helps the store reduce both its environmental impact and operating costs. The batteries also enable the business to take advantage of lower-cost green electricity overnight, contributing to a reduction in carbon emissions of around 30,000kg.

For a single village shop, this is a remarkable achievement, demonstrating how community businesses can take practical action on climate change while building a stronger, more sustainable future for their communities and local economies.

Smarden Community Store showcases how environmental action can become part of the day-to-day operation of a thriving community business. Rather than treating sustainability as a standalone project, the store has embedded it into the everyday customer experience.

Visitors can access battery and vape recycling points, helping to ensure potentially harmful items are disposed of responsibly. Customers are encouraged to take part in a variety of reuse schemes, including milk bottle and beer bottle returns, while egg boxes are collected and put back into circulation.

The store also takes a practical approach to reducing waste. Cardboard boxes are retained for customers to reuse when sending parcels, used coffee grounds are offered to local gardeners as a valuable compost resource, and plant pots are returned directly to suppliers for reuse. Even routine operations reflect the store’s commitment to sustainability, with eco-friendly cleaning products used throughout the business.

Refill station

Outside of the shop

While these initiatives may seem simple individually, together they help create a culture where sustainable choices become an everyday habit for customers and volunteers alike.

Recognising the challenges rural communities can face when transitioning to low-carbon transport, the shop has also installed two fast electric vehicle charging points. Located in the heart of the village, the chargers make it easier for residents and visitors to use electric vehicles without travelling elsewhere to recharge. By integrating charging facilities into a routine shopping trip, the store helps remove practical barriers to greener transport choices while supporting the wider transition away from fossil fuels.

Smarden Community Store’s commitment to environmental action reflects the ambition set out in Plunkett’s new strategy. By combining sustainability with community benefit, the business is not only reducing its environmental impact but also strengthening its long-term resilience. It demonstrates that community ownership is about more than running a business; it is about creating thriving, inclusive and sustainable rural communities that are equipped to meet the challenges of the future.