Pillar 2 ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE PROTECTION

Progressive climate change and the associated global warming are among the biggest challenges of our time. As a cooperative, we want to continually and consistently minimize the impact of our business activities on the climate. We set ourselves the goal of being completely CO2-neutral by 2023 back in 2008 and began working towards our ambitious climate target with lasting and comprehensive measures. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and optimizing our use of resources, we are steadily improving our environmental performance as a business and focus on aspects on which, in our business activities, we can have the greatest direct impact.To reduce CO2 emissions, we are continually cutting back our energy consumption, relying on renewable energy sources and investing in sustainable mobility and logistics solutions. The use of the latest standards for sustainable buildings and a targeted waste and recycling management system also ensure that we use natural resources sparingly.

Coop is significantly reducing its own energy consumption and protecting the climate by systematically reducing CO2 emissions.

9 252

RETAIL: Less air freight: CO2 reduced by 9,252 tonnes compared with previous year (equates to the CO2 captured by around 740,000 trees)

100%

HALBA: Oil no longer used at all as an energy source

100%

TRANSGOURMET ÖSTERREICH: CO2 neutral, completely reliant on hydroelectric power, 100% offsetting of remaining CO2 emissions in Gold-standard climate protection project Godawari Power

POSITIVE ENERGY / CO2

As its concentration increases in the atmosphere, the greenhouse gas CO2 is leading to permanent global warming, disrupting the balance of our ecosystem. To minimize our impact on climate change, each year we record our CO2 footprint and identify the measures needed to further reduce our energy consumption. We offset emissions from business trips, coop.ch delivery trips, air freight and business vehicles through climate protection projects along our own supply chain. We also continually increase the use of renewable energy sources.

  • Target 1 We are reducing energy consumption in absolute terms by 8.6% compared with 2012.
    Fill-level meter:     MWh

    • Comments The absolute target figures are not adjusted for growth or acquisitions. This phenomenal result is due among other things to reduced air traffic during the pandemic.
  • Target 2
    We are increasing the percentage of renewable energy sources to 73%.
    Fill-level meter: %
    • CommentsThe switch to renewable energy sources is running a little behind schedule.
  • Target 3We are reducing CO2 emissions in absolute terms by 19.2% compared with 2012.
    Fill-level meter: Tonnes

    • CommentsWe have already substantially exceeded our 2021 target and reduced our CO2 emissions by an outstanding 30% since 2012. Our rail company railCare AG offers the added benefit of substantial potential savings in transport logistics.
  • Outlook and challengesIn 2008 we set ourselves the goal of being completely CO2-neutral by the end of 2023. By reducing our energy consumption and using renewable energy sources, we will have lowered our operational CO2 emissions by 41% by 2023. From 2024, we will aim for the national climate target of net zero emissions by 2050. We will give our all for the climate, and never give up.
  • Measures
    • Consideration for climate protection in the manufacture and transport of products
    • Sustainability standards in mobility and logistics and building management
    • Use of natural refrigerants such as CO2 and ammonia in supermarkets (Action 94)
    • Installation of closed refrigerating units and use of waste heat from cooling equipment
    • Low-CO2 energy generation
    • Renewable energy sources to generate heat
    • Offsetting through climate protection projects to the Gold standard (the world’s most stringent offsetting standard)
    • Less air freight
    • 100% CO2-neutral textiles in the Naturaline Textiles own-label brand
    • Zero peat in composts to preserve moorland
    • Founding member of WWF Climate Savers and now a Climate Partner of the WWF
    • Further information: Energy and climate – Sustainability at Coop – Actions, not words
  • Inner Drive & projectsNew action: No. 389: Launch of an energy-neutral, CO2-free poultry house in partnership with Bell Switzerland (a division of Bell Food Group AG)
  • Highlights & figures
    • Less air freight: CO2 reduced by 9,252 tonnes compared with previous year (equates to the CO2 captured by around 740,000 trees)
    • Ban on air freight for herbs between May and September
    • Saving through active shift to rail – Railcare: 8,307 tonnes of CO2 and over 11.2 million road kilometres avoided
    • Direct greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1): 31,143 tonnes of CO2
    • Indirect greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 2): 7,328 tonnes of CO2
  • Target 1 We are reducing energy consumption in absolute terms by 2.7% compared with 2015.
    Fill-level meter: %

    • Comments The absolute target figures are not adjusted for growth or acquisitions.
  • Target 2 We are increasing the percentage of renewable energy sources to 60%.
    Fill-level meter: %
    • Comments We have already achieved our 2021 target of 60% renewable energy sources.
  • Target 3 We are reducing CO2 emissions in absolute terms by 21.2% compared with 2015.
    Fill-level meter: Tonnes
    • CommentsThe absolute target figures are not adjusted for growth or acquisitions. We have already achieved our 2021 target.
      We have achieved our target.
  • Measures
    • Energy consumption analyses to identify scope for optimization in processing, and appropriate measures
    • Continued use of waste heat and cold occurring in production processes
    • Use of renewable energies to generate heat (e.g. wood chippings or heat pumps)
    • Sustainability standards in mobility and logistics and building management
    • Installation of closed refrigerating units and use of waste heat from cooling equipment
    • Low-CO2 electricity generation and optimization of the electricity mix
  • Inner Drive & projects New action: No. 389: Launch of an energy-neutral, CO2-free poultry house in partnership with Bell Switzerland (a division of Bell Food Group AG)
  • Highlights & figures
    • HALBA: Oil no longer used at all as an energy source
    • BELL FOOD GROUP AG (Bell Switzerland): Electricity for the equivalent of around 750 households now comes from its renewable heat pump
    • Direct greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1): 39,159 tonnes of CO2
    • Indirect greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 2): 31,255 tonnes of CO2
  • Target 1 We are reducing specific energy consumption (heat/electricity) at our sales outlets in Western Europe by 5.3% per m2 and in Eastern Europe by 1.3% (compared with 2015).
    Fill-level meter: MWh
    Western Europe:


    Eastern Europe:
    • Comments The absolute target figures are not adjusted for growth or acquisitions. We have already substantially exceeded both 2021 targets.
  • Target 2 We are reducing specific energy consumption in deliveries by 20.3% per tonne of goods delivered (compared with 2015).
    Fill-level meter: MWh
    • Comments Owing to the pandemic, we delivered fewer goods overall and made less efficient use of delivery route capacity.
  • Target 3 In the cash & carry business, we are reducing specific CO2 emissions per m2 by 5.7% in Western Europe and by 6.0% in Eastern Europe (compared with 2015).
    Fill-level meter: Tonnes

    Western Europe:


    Eastern Europe:
    • Comments We have already substantially exceeded our 2021 targets.
  • Target 4 We are reducing specific CO2 emissions in deliveries by 18.8% per tonne of goods delivered (compared with 2015).
    Fill-level meter:
    • Comments Owing to the pandemic, we delivered fewer goods overall, and made less efficient use of delivery route capacity as a result.
  • Measures
    • General reduction in CO2 emissions
    • Sustainability standards in mobility and logistics and building management
    • Installation of closed refrigerating units and use of waste heat from cooling equipment
    • Low-CO2 energy generation
    • Renewable energy sources to generate heat
    • Pilot projects using energy measurement systems
    • Optimization of the electricity mix to lower CO2 emissions
  • Highlights & figures
    • TRANSGOURMET ÖSTERREICH: CO2-neutral, completely reliant on hydroelectric power, 100% offsetting of remaining CO2 emissions in Gold-standard climate protection project Godawari Power
    • Direct greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1): 27,356 tonnes of CO2
    • Indirect greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 2): 98,338 tonnes of CO2

SDGs

Coop is reducing and optimizing specific use of materials and substances and waste.

32

RETAIL: Reusable: in total, we collect and recycle 32 different materials

95%

RETAIL: La Mocca coffee capsules switched from plastic to aluminium: during recycling, reduces energy consumption by 95% per kilogram of capsules

80%

TRANSGOURMET SWITZERLAND: already recycles 80% of its reusable materials

WASTE CLOSING LOOPS

Avoiding, rather than causing waste: we are committed to the responsible use of resources and to reducing the amount of waste we generate. Through targeted waste management and the concept of the circular economy, we are continually minimizing and optimizing our use of materials and substances and closing product cycles by reusing raw materials while also saving costs. Thus, the food waste and leftovers from restaurants that occur despite all our efforts are fermented into biogas, and the digestate is used as fresh compost and liquid fertilizer for agriculture. To reduce the amount of waste generated at home by our customers, we are constantly working on using fewer packaging materials and switching to the most environmentally sound alternatives.

  • Target We are increasing the reusable materials quota to 80%.
    Target indicator: %
  • Comments We have already achieved our 2021 target.

    In total, we produced 135,850 tonnes of waste last year. 81.3% of that total was either recycled or used as fuel. The remaining 18.7% was disposed of as household waste, bulky waste or building rubble in landfills for inert materials.
  • Outlook and challengesIn order to achieve our targets while also save on the costs of disposal, going forward we will be even more committed to the holistic approach of the circular economy, recycling and reusing materials and closing loops.
  • Measures
    • Monthly recording of clean materials separately collected and recycled at sales outlets. Each point of sale has a disposal concept specific to it and the sales format involved.
    • Sparing use of resources, promotion of their reuse through targeted waste management and the circular economy: reduction in volume of household waste, optimization of materials (taking due account of longevity, repairability, modularity) and increase in recycling rate
    • Organic waste is transformed into animal feed, biogas, biodiesel for our trucks, and the digestate into compost and liquid fertilizer for agriculture
    • Commitment to Swiss Recycling’s circular economy platform and to the “Design for Recycling Alliance”.
    • Cooperation with various partners in the area of waste and recycling
    • Guideline on secondary packaging
    • Recycling stations at our sales outlets, facility to return various materials
    • Commitment to combating litter in partnership with IGSU Interest Group for a Clean Environment
  • Inner Drive & projects
    Hire and repair service for machines and appliances at Coop Building & Hobby and Fust
  • Highlights & figures
    • Reusable: in total, we collect and recycle 32 different materials
    • La Mocca coffee capsules switched from plastic to aluminium: during recycling, reduces energy consumption by 95% per kilogram of capsules
    • New liquid waste measurement to reduce food waste in all restaurants
  • Target We are increasing the quota of reusable materials to 85%
    Target indicator: %
  • Comments

    We have already substantially exceeded our 2021 target.


    In total, we produced 92,619 tonnes of waste last year. 86.7% of that total was either recycled or used as fuel. The remaining 13.3% was disposed of as household waste, bulky waste or building rubble in landfills for inert materials.

  • Outlook and challenges In future, we will focus even more on closing product cycles. Swissmill and Pearlwater have started new pilot projects for the sophisticated treatment and recycling of waste that was previously disposed of.
  • Measures
    • Analysis of industrial sidestreams at all manufacturing companies, waste occurring during the processing of raw materials.
    • Monthly recording of reusable materials separately collected and recycled
    • Sparing use of resources, promotion of their reuse through targeted waste management and the circular economy
    • Guideline on secondary packaging
  • Target We are increasing the quota of reusable materials to 73.0%.
    Target indicator: %
  • Comments We have already substantially exceeded our 2021 target.

    In total, we produced 53,384 tonnes of waste last year. 78.7% of that total was either recycled or used as fuel. The remaining 21.3% was disposed of as household waste, bulky waste or building rubble in landfills for inert materials.
  • Outlook and challenges
    We remain committed to our rigorous waste management. For 2021, TRANSGOURMET FRANCE intends to tackle recycling in its warehouses head-on. TRANSGOURMET SWITZERLAND has identified potential improvements to the way data are collected and now intends to implement these.
  • Measures
    • Recording of reusable materials separately collected and recycled
    • Ongoing reduction in residual waste volume, sparing use of resources, promotion of their reuse through targeted waste management
  • Highlights & figures
    • TRANSGOURMET SWITZERLAND: already recycles 80% of its reusable materials

SDGs

Coop has innovative and environmentally friendly mobility and logistics solutions.

45%

RETAIL: 45% of our trucks are powered by CO2-neutral biodiesel from organic waste (such as frying oil from our restaurants)

Award

TRANSGOURMET GERMANY: Awarded the Sustainability Prize for Logistics by logistics association Bundesvereinigung Logistik (BVL)

MOBILITY & LOGISTICS CO2 ROAD MAP

A large proportion of CO2 emissions comes from goods transport. We are committed to innovative and alternative fuels such as hydrogen, biodiesel from waste, or biogas. By shifting our goods transport in excess of 90 kilometres (= 1 trip from Zurich to Basel) to rail, we are further reducing the environmental impact of our logistics. We offset our air freight and business trips as well as coop.ch delivery trips. Furthermore, by basing our range around seasonal and regional products, we promote the purchase of products that have travelled shorter distances.

  • Target 1
    For goods transport in excess of 90 km from the national distribution centres, we are switching from road to rail

    • Comments
      We have achieved our target and consistently implemented the shift from road to rail for distances in excess of 90 km. Last year, we saved 8,307 tonnes of CO2 and over 11.2 million road kilometres.
  • Target 2
    We are trialling and implementing innovative mobility solutions.

    • Comments
      We have achieved our target and successfully continued our pioneering work with the use of hydrogen in transport logistics.
  • Outlook and challengesWe already have more hydrogen-fuelled trucks and hydrogen filling stations planned for the next year. Together with the H2 Mobility Switzerland Association, we are building a network of hydrogen filling stations that will cover the whole of Switzerland by the end of 2023. We are also planning to open 100 e-charging stations by 2023.
  • Measures
    • Greater efficiency in logistics, shifting goods transport to rail, promotion of innovative transport systems based on renewable energies
    • Use of CO2-neutral biodiesel from organic waste for our trucks (this might contain substances such as frying oil from our manufacturing companies and restaurants)
    • Development and trialling of future-proof mobility systems by our rail company railCare AG
    • Pioneer in hydrogen-fuelled mobility, founder of the H2 Mobility Association, construction of the first public hydrogen filling station
    • Promotion of electromobility
    • Cargo sous terrain (CST): switching goods transport underground – initiation and co-development of the project from the outset
  • Highlights & figures
    • 45% of our trucks are powered by CO2-neutral biodiesel from organic waste (such as frying oil from our restaurants)
    • 7 CO2-neutral hydrogen-fuelled trucks purchased with 10 tonne capacity – saving around 80 tonnes of CO2 per year, per truck
    • Construction of 2 new hydrogen filling stations
    • Less air freight: CO2 reduced by 9,252 tonnes compared with previous year (equates to the CO2 captured by around 740,000 trees)
    • Ban on air freight for herbs between May and September
  • Target
    We are trialling and implementing innovative mobility solutions.
  • Comments
    We have only partially achieved our target. Due to the pandemic and the associated restaurant closures, our delivery route capacity was very badly under-utilized.
  • Outlook and challengesIn future, we will continue trialling new and sustainable transport alternatives.
  • Measures
    • Greater efficiency in logistics, switching goods transport
    • Promotion of innovative transport systems based on renewable energies
    • Development and trialling of future-proof mobility systems
    • TRANSGOURMET SWITZERLAND: Trials of telematics, truck fleet being gradually switched, used cooking oil is taken back for free and recycled into biodiesel
    • TRANSGOURMET POLAND: Pilot project with electric trucks
    • TRANSGOURMET GERMANY: new technologies trialled for commercial vehicles, 15 new trucks in use powered by compressed natural gas
  • Highlights & figures
    • TRANSGOURMET GERMANY: Awarded the Sustainability Prize for Logistics by logistics association Bundesvereinigung Logistik (BVL)
    • TRANSGOURMET FRANCE: Test of a new logistics system in Paris

SDGs

Coop is reducing and optimizing specific use of materials and substances and waste.

24 373 m2

RETAIL: New photovoltaic units on Coop roofs: 24,373 m2 (equivalent to around 3 football pitches)

100%

RETAIL: LED lighting in supermarkets and Coop restaurants

414

RETAIL: 414 out of 900 supermarkets already meet the Minergie standard

BUILDING BLOCKS OF THE FUTURE

Buildings are among the biggest consumers of primary resources. By using sustainable construction methods, we are reducing CO2 emissions and promoting the efficient use of energy while at the same time improving the quality of the work environment for our employees. Moreover, this approach reduces operating and maintenance costs. Therefore, we always plan and optimize our new builds and renovation work in our stores, warehouses and head offices according to environmental specifications and the Minergie standard. Technical innovations are being deployed to make our sales outlets increasingly resource-friendly and energy-efficient.

  • Target We are developing a comprehensive “Sustainable Construction” concept and consistently implementing this in our new buildings and when renovating existing buildings.
  • Comments We have achieved our target and were able to undertake regular improvement measures. Furthermore, we have updated our “Sustainable Construction” concept.
  • Outlook and challengesGoing forward, we will continue equipping and converting our buildings with sustainable technologies, and will also take greater account of the landscaping concept.
  • Measures
    • New builds and renovations: consistently to Minergie standard, LED technology for lighting, CO2 as a refrigerant, installation of closed refrigerating units, use of waste heat from cooling equipment
    • Fossil fuels no longer used for heating in new builds and renovations
    • Use of solar power by steadily adding more photovoltaic units on our roofs
    • Support for the Sustainable Construction Switzerland standard (SNBS)
    • Use of recyclable building materials in properties, with focus on energy efficiency and renewable energies
    • New focus on energy use, manufacturing processes and raw materials in construction materials and their recycling (direct influence on net zero emissions by 2050 target)
    • POS – Sustainability at Coop – Actions, not words
  • Inner Drive & projects New action: No. 85: Project for the simultaneous cooling and heating of sales outlets with industrial cooling and energy-efficient refrigerated islands successfully completed.
  • Highlights & figures
    • New photovoltaic units on Coop roofs: 24,373 m2 (equivalent to around 3 football pitches)
    • 100% LED lighting in supermarkets and Coop restaurants
    • 414 out of 900 supermarkets already meet the Minergie standard
  • Target
    We take account of sustainability standards in our new buildings and when renovating existing buildings.
  • Comments
    We have partially achieved our target and implemented various measures at our logistics centres.
  • Outlook and challengesWe will intensify our focus on this issue over the next year and use sustainable technologies and construction standards in all new buildings and when renovating existing buildings.
  • Measures
    • We will be consistently implementing further measures in new buildings and those undergoing renovation: Minergie standard, LED technology for lighting, CO2 as a refrigerant, heat recovery, closed refrigerating units
    • Expansion of photovoltaic units on our roofs
  • Highlights & figures
    • TRANSGOURMET ROMANIA: old refrigerating systems being steadily replaced with environmentally friendly CO2 units
    • TRANSGOURMET SWITZERLAND: expansion of Neuendorf logistics centre with a 5,000 m2 photovoltaic unit

SDGs