Taking steps towards more environmentally conscious business practices, lifestyles, and shopping
As a major Belgian employer, retailer, and manufacturer, we must use raw materials responsibly. We’re reducing our environmental impact step by step and encouraging our customers and employees to adopt more sustainable consumption patterns: that’s how we’re truly making a difference for our environment.
How does Colruyt Group contribute to more environmentally conscious business practices, living, and shopping?
- We’re increasing the circularity of our products and raw materials and using them sparingly
- We’re reducing the environmental impact of our products and operations
- We encourage conscious consumption through the Green Score and our associated rewards programme
- We are committed to the protein shift and therefore offer more plant-based alternatives
We are increasing the circularity of our products and raw materials and using them sparingly
As a retailer, we use raw materials to produce products and materials and to keep our stores and operations running. But raw materials are becoming scarce due to the growing global population and rising prosperity. That’s why we must manage them in a sustainable and circular way.
- We excel at selling as much of our fresh food as possible because food waste really is a shame. More than 97% is sold thanks to thoughtful inventory management and optimal storage. Whatever remains on the shelves, we repurpose as much as possible through social organisations such as food banks, clearance sales, or processing into other products.
- Smart packaging aims to minimise its environmental impact, both for itself and for the product it protects. For example, the ideal packaging also allows food to be stored longer. Whenever possible, we simply eliminate packaging and offer products in bulk. In addition, we are constantly analysing where we can reduce, reuse, or better recycle packaging. We are also investing in innovative solutions to reduce waste.
- With hundreds of buildings (stores, offices, production and distribution centres, etc.), we have a significant impact when we build, renovate, and manage our buildings in a circular way. We minimise the use of primary raw materials and reuse as many materials as possible or recycle them to a high standard, thereby reducing waste streams and consuming fewer primary raw materials.
- We are fully committed to circular water management, both in our stores and at our production sites, distribution centres, and offices. By capturing as much rainwater and wastewater as possible and—if necessary—treating it, we return it to the cycle so we can reuse it.
We are reducing the environmental impact of our products and activities
We are gradually reducing the environmental impact of the products we sell by lowering emissions and contributing to the protection and restoration of ecosystems, including by working with our suppliers to ensure that high-risk products are deforestation-free. We are also systematically reducing the environmental impact of our own operations. This involves a number of objectives.
Here, too, we’re mobilising our employees: we’re transitioning to a fully electric vehicle fleet, encouraging cycling for commuting, using heating wisely, and organising litter cleanup campaigns.
We encourage conscious consumption through the Green Score and our associated savings programme
The Green Score is a colour-coded rating assigned to products, allowing customers to see at a glance how environmentally friendly a product is. The Green Score for our own products is clearly visible on the price tag or via the Xtra app.
Through our sustainable rewards programme, we also actively encourage our customers to make conscious choices: they can earn points by purchasing products with a Green Score of A+ or A. And then they can redeem those points for a charitable cause supported by our foundation, or for free products or webinars.
We are committed to the protein shift and therefore offer more plant-based alternatives
We have committed to the Flemish government’s Green Deal protein shift. Which is why we’re making a wide, innovative range of plant-based alternatives available to consumers through Boni Plan’t. But our customers can also count on countless easy recipes featuring more plant-based, enriched products. A meal without meat or fish isn’t just better for your health—it’s also better for the environment and the climate. That’s why we aim to increase sales of plant-based products year on year.
