Sustainable entrepreneurship for the generations to come
As a values-driven family business, we have been operating sustainably for more than 50 years, with future generations in mind. We anchor our ambitions in long-term objectives and, step by step, do better for society, the environment and our health. Together with our partners, employees and customers, we make conscious consumption simple and achievable.
Our sustainability policy at a glance
Step by step, we are working towards a better world for the generations of tomorrow by, on the one hand, operating sustainably ourselves and, on the other hand, making conscious consumption achievable for everyone. We do this together with our partners, employees and customers.
We have already launched more than 150 concrete sustainability initiatives within the themes Caring for one another, Environmentally conscious and Healthy.
We have ambitious long-term objectives regarding, among other things, CO2 emissions, resource use and mobility, and we closely monitor our progress.
What is our view on sustainable entrepreneurship?
Sustainable entrepreneurship to enable conscious consumption
Sustainable entrepreneurship and conscious consumption go hand in hand. We start with ourselves: as a retailer, producer and employer, we make our own activities more sustainable on the basis of clear, measurable targets. For example, by 2030 we aim for 100% emission-free freight transport, 90% low-energy stores, 60% plant-based proteins in our assortment and 42% lower CO2 emissions. We also limit food waste to a minimum.
At the same time, we want to set a broader positive movement in motion, because we cannot create a better world on our own. We value every step forward that we take together with our employees, partners and customers:
We establish targeted partnerships to exchange expertise on, among other things, sustainable agricultural techniques (e.g. carbon farming) and to work on responsibly sourced raw materials (e.g. cocoa).
Together with our customers, we take achievable steps forward. We make it easy for them to make conscious and healthy choices, including through the Green-score.
Three sustainability themes
With more than 150 concrete initiatives, we are working on three sustainability themes. We inspire our partners, employees and customers to take steps, large or small. In this way, together and step by step, we are building a more sustainable world for the generation of tomorrow.
Caring for one another
Together, we ensure a supportive society in which no one is left behind.
Concrete examples:
- We purchase as much as possible from Belgian suppliers and work structurally with 600 Belgian farmers.
- By 2035, we aim to purchase only socially responsible raw materials, for example through supply chain projects.
- We provide workable and meaningful work for all employees.
- Customers give young people in difficult situations the opportunity to grow through the savings programme in the Xtra app.
- Together with our customers, we donate more than 10,000 tonnes of food per year to local social organisations.
Environmentally conscious
We step by step reduce the environmental impact of our products and activities.
Concrete examples:
- We are working towards 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2030.
- 97% of our electricity consumption comes from renewable sources. We build low-energy stores and focus on circular construction.
- Since 2025, we have only added electric cars to our company car fleet.
- Customers can more easily find plant-based proteins via Boni Plan’t.
- Thanks to the Green-score, customers can easily choose products with a low impact.
Healthy
We make healthy choices simple and encourage an active lifestyle among customers and employees.
Concrete examples:
- Brands such as Jims, Bio-Planet, Colruyt Group Academy, Newpharma and Yoboo complement each other and make healthy choices accessible.
- We improve the nutritional values of our private label products (less sugar, salt and fats, more fibre).
- All Colruyt stores offer a parapharmacy range at the lowest prices.
- Within our training offer for employees, there is extensive attention to mental wellbeing.
- With the help of the Nutri-Score, customers can easily make healthy food choices.
How do we report on our sustainability policy?
Each year, we report on the ecological and social added value created by our group. The sustainability report is prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.
For these sites, we believe we can achieve a positive impact at every link in the chain. For each site, we have formulated clear and measurable long-term objectives. We carefully monitor our progress.
No greenwashing: we want to create tangible impact. We measure this using internationally recognised and scientifically substantiated methodologies that examine all facets of sustainability, such as the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and the Organisation Environmental Footprint (OEF).
Some concrete results of our sustainability efforts
Our greenhouse gas emissions in scope 1 and 2 decreased by 19.8% compared with the base year 2021.
36.5% of our products are purchased from suppliers with ambitious climate plans.
99.7% of the packaging of our private label products is recyclable or reusable.
37.5% of our employees commute to work by means other than the car.
Frequently asked questions
-
At Colruyt Group, sustainability is teamwork:
- The Board of Directors determines the sustainability policy, in collaboration with a central sustainability team. Various teams then put this into practice.
- Experts in product sustainability make the private labels more sustainable.
- Buyers work with suppliers to make their processes more sustainable.
- The environmental department monitors waste and food loss.
- Colleagues from Supply Chain and Technics & Engineering are greening our fleet.
- The Real Estate department makes our buildings (stores, logistics centres and offices) more sustainable.
- The Marketing department encourages customers to make more sustainable and healthier choices, for example through the Step by Step programme.
- Employees of the Farming department work with Belgian farmers on responsible cultivation.
- The People & Organisation team ensures workable and meaningful work.
-
Like other companies, we measure our greenhouse gas emissions according to the three scopes of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Within the scopes, we make clear choices:
For scope 1 and 2 (direct and indirect emissions within our control):
- We are a pioneer in zero-emission transport and circular construction.
- Energy efficiency, energy recovery and energy management are daily practices in our business processes.
- We use as much renewable energy as possible.
- We are working towards climate-neutral buildings over their entire life cycle.
- When making choices around CO2 reduction, we also consider possible negative effects on other environmental themes.
- We invest in reforestation, with a first major step being the 10,000 hectares of trees that we aim to plant by 2028 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
For scope 3 (emissions linked to our products and activities, outside our control):
- Through the Green-score and our sustainable savings programme, we make it easier for customers to make sustainable choices.
- We focus on the protein transition by selling more plant-based and alternative products, for example Boni Plan’t.
- We work together with sectors to make the most impactful raw materials more sustainable, for example the dairy sector. We encourage our A-brand suppliers to take their own steps in terms of CO2 reduction.
- We avoid secondary negative effects of CO2 reduction on other themes such as human rights and health.
You can read more about this in our policy texts for scope 1 and 2 and scope 3.
-
Customers can recognise products with the lowest environmental impact by the Green-score A+ or A on the packaging.
-
Step by step is the sustainability programme of our group and our brands. The programme makes the sustainability initiatives of the entire group known to the general public. The initiatives fall under three themes (Caring for one another, Environmentally conscious and Healthy), each with a recognisable icon. The programme is called Step by Step because at Colruyt Group we believe in building step by step towards a better society, planet and health.
Where possible, through the programme we activate our partners, employees and customers to contribute themselves. Because we know we cannot do it alone. Every step counts, including those of our stakeholders.
-
As a customer, you can buy products with a Green-score A+ or A in our stores. In doing so, you take two steps forward: you buy products with a low environmental impact and you collect points in the Xtra app. You can use those points to contribute to a selection of good causes that we support through the Colruyt Group Foundation.
In addition, in our stores and services you can look out for the Every Step Counts logo. If you see that logo, you can be sure that the product or service in question contributes to a better society, planet or health.
-
At Colruyt Group, we make daily efforts to avoid food loss. We are fairly successful in this: we sell more than 97% of our fresh food. We donate food surpluses to organisations such as Food Banks, Foodsavers and La Croix Rouge.
-
Our stores offer various fair trade products such as Oxfam products and coffee and chocolate with a Fairtrade certification.
In 2025, for the second year in a row, we were rewarded at the Fairtrade Frontrunners Award for the efforts we make in the field of fair cocoa. With our Boni chocolate, we fully commit to a living income for the cocoa farmers involved.
-
The 5 Ps of sustainable entrepreneurship divide the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into 5 dimensions. We use this international framework as a compass for our own sustainability policy.
1) People: we operate in such a way that no one is left behind
- We set up international supply chain collaborations to purchase sustainable raw materials.
- We make it easy for customers to consume consciously and healthily.
- We focus on workable and meaningful work for our employees.
- Through our Colruyt Group Foundation we support people in difficult situations to take steps forward for themselves and their surroundings.
2) Planet: we use natural resources sparingly and protect the climate for future generations
- We focus on circular construction.
- We reduce the environmental impact of our products (e.g. improved cultivation techniques, smarter packaging ...).
- We work on CO2-reduction.
3) Prosperity: profit goes hand in hand with making a positive difference for people and planet
- Creating sustainable added value is our mission.
4) Partnerships: in collaborations we strive for a win-win-win
- International chain collaboration and local partnerships with Belgian farmers result in added value for both customer and producer.
- Innovations are the result of teamwork: we always involve our own experts, external partners and employees in stores or in the logistics chain.
- We regard our customers as valuable partners in conscious consumption. We value the steps they take towards a better future.
5) Peace: we work towards a just and inclusive society
- Employees are free to be themselves.
- We empower people (customers and employees) to make a positive difference for themselves and their surroundings, for example through our sustainable savings programme and our Colruyt Group Foundation.