Online fashion group Oh Polly has taken steps to deliver on its group-wide sustainability promise by investing £ 700,000 in a new hybrid renewable energy system at its Wirral base.

The system will supply heat and electricity to the 180,000 m² facility, located in the Riverside Business Park in Bromborough.

In partnership with renewable energy specialists Engenera, the new combined heat and power (CHP) unit will provide enough renewable energy for the site to become zero carbon by November.

The system uses anaerobic digestion to power a generator which, in turn, will produce electricity and warehouse heat for the site.

Paired with an additional rooftop solar system, it will provide power without the need for fuel during the summer months, when there is less need to heat the warehouse.

The move, which will position the company as one of the industry’s leading “green” fashion brands, is part of a company-wide strategy to provide a workplace safe and durable while staying on the cutting edge of high quality online fashion.

Oh Polly’s Director of Environment, Health and Safety Dyfan Lloyd said: “We realize this is a major breakthrough for the industry and a huge company. for us here at Oh Polly.

“As leaders in our field, creating a safe and sustainable environment for our staff is at the heart of our sustainability strategy. It’s a huge project, but we are extremely excited to take this next step in our sustainability journey.

Oh Polly, which was founded by Claire Henderson and Mike Branney in 2014 after they met on a trip to the Far East, now employs over 200 people in the UK.

In addition to its headquarters in Bromborough, the company also has offices in Glasgow and Los Angeles, with dedicated suppliers in Dhaka and Guangzhou.

Founded initially to help fund the couple’s charitable work in Cambodia, the company has stayed true to its ethical roots with over 50% of its clothing line made by dedicated sourcing partners and a team of buyers who deal directly with manufacturers around the world to help eradicate exploitation.

To date, the company’s charity, the Brannerson Foundation, has raised over £ 1million to help support children in some of the poorest parts of the world. Oh Polly also became a zero landfill site this year.