Reducing our waste and recycle more
In our stores, return centres, logistics sites, and offices, we’re constantly improving how we manage waste streams so that materials can be reused. Proper sorting is essential to making recycling possible. Today, we already recycle more than 85% of our waste.
Where do we stand today?
Good news! Today, we already recycle more than 85% of our waste streams. That doesn’t mean we’re not continuing to strive to do better every day.
recycling rate
What is Colruyt Group doing to reduce waste?
Our focus is clear: prevent waste wherever possible, sort it correctly, and ensure materials are recycled to the highest possible standard. This is not only good for the planet but also aligns with our vision of an efficient, circular approach to raw materials. By keeping materials such as cardboard, plastic film, and hard plastics in a closed loop, we are turning today’s waste into tomorrow’s raw materials.
From most to least desirable according to the circular economy:
- Avoid: the most sustainable packaging is the kind that isn’t needed.
- Reuse: reusing materials internally or externally in their original form.
- High-value recycling: processing properly sorted materials into new, equivalent products.
- Low-grade recycling: processing properly sorted materials into other, less critical applications.
- Energy recovery: incineration with energy recuperation.
How do we reduce waste by recycling more effectively?
Both in our stores and at our return centres, we insist on extremely strict sorting. We go beyond legal requirements by collecting more waste streams separately than is mandated. This is the only way to guarantee pure streams suitable for high-value recycling.
The cardboard waste from our stores is given a very concrete new purpose: we turn it into the sturdy, reusable, foldable boxes that our customers use at the checkout.
The enormous quantities of plastic film (mainly outer packaging from logistics) are collected separately. We use this as the basis for making new plastic film, reducing our reliance on virgin plastics.
The blue foldable boxes from our online grocery service Collect&Go are made of pure polypropylene. When a box is discarded, we grind it into granules to mould brand-new foldable boxes.
Circularity doesn’t stop at packaging. We also carefully reuse all raw materials when our buildings are demolished or renovated. Circular construction is increasingly becoming the approach for every new construction site, which will make reuse even easier in the future.
Lower environmental impact by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy efficiency
We’re doing more than just managing waste responsibly to reduce the environmental impact of our own operations. By reducing our own emissions by 42% and becoming 20% more energy-efficient by 2030 (compared to the base year 2021), we’re gradually reducing our impact.
