Cleaner atmosphere with less greenhouse gases

Human activities increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They trap the sun's heat, causing global warming and climate change. To counteract this increased greenhouse effect and air pollution, global CO₂ emissions must be reduced.

You can read exactly what we mean by atmosphere in our definitions.

How does Colruyt Group want to combat climate change?

1 Reduce direct greenhouse gas emissions

For decades, we have been committed to preventing and reducing our direct greenhouse gas emissions (scope 1 of the GHG Protocol). We have reviewed all our activities and identified four areas where we have the highest carbon emissions and thus climate impact. This is what we are trying hardest to reduce. Our biggest CO₂ hotspots are:

We continuously invest in innovative solutions to avoid and reduce our direct greenhouse gas emissions in each of these four areas.

2 Reduce indirect greenhouse gas emissions

For example, the products on our shelves and the materials we use have an indirect impact on the climate. Using LCA (life cycle assessments) analyses, we look at the entire life cycle of these products and materials: from raw material to production, packaging, transport, use, waste treatment, recycling, etc. The factors with the greatest impact on climate change are tackled first, in close cooperation with our suppliers. 

We also create indirect CO2 emissions when it comes to mobility: the trips of our customers to our stores, the home-workplace commute of our workers and the transport of goods that we don’t organise ourselves. We also want to make this transport sustainable.

3 Capture greenhouse gases

The CO2 that we still emit (within scope 1 and 2 of the GHG Protocol), is recaptured by planting a large forest. Trees extract CO2 from the air by storing it in their biomass and are therefore one of the most efficient solutions against climate change.

Our objectives and initiatives

Direct greenhouse gases

By 2030, we will emit 42% less direct greenhouse gases (in absolute values) compared to 2021.

Status 2021

Goal 2030

Natural refrigerants

By 2030, all Bio-Planet, Colruyt Lowest Prices and OKay stores will be equipped with a refrigeration system running on natural refrigerants.
 

Status March 2022

35,7%
Goal 2030

Liquid ice containers

By the end of 2022, all CO₂ freezer containers in the logistics of Bio-Planet, Colruyt Lowest Prices and OKay will be replaced by liquid ice containers.
 

Status March 2022

94,0%
Goal end of 2022

CO2 capture by trees

By 2030, we will achieve net zero emissions within scope 1 and 2 of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol by planting a forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo.


Initiatives for 'Capture of greenhouse gases'