Our engagements and partnerships
More than ever we are building sustainable collaborations. These help us in our mission to create sustainable added value for people and environment together. Both the co-operations with partners and our concrete engagements are an important lever to realise our sustainability goals.
Our engagements
Together with other players in the retail sector we translate our goals in the field of sustainability into concrete engagements.
Green Deals
The Green Deals of the Flemish government exist of voluntary agreements between (private) partners and the Flemish government to start green projects together, around specific themes. Colruyt Group has already endorsed several Green Deals in the past years with a clear link to our own activities.
During the Green Deal 'Circular procurement' various companies and organisations investigated how they can close energy and material circular courses in the supply chain. In total, the Green deal resulted in more than 100 circular purchasing experiments, with the development of new tools and methods and the exchange of knowledge and experiences.
With the Green Deal 'Climate-friendly refrigeration', we continue on our already chosen path: we keep systematically replacing old cooling installations that work on F-gases with more sustainable alternatives with natural cooling. A switch that we have been working on since 2015.
The Green Deal 'Packaged differently' focuses on avoiding or re-using single use packagings. In addition to sharing knowledge and exchanging experiences, concrete pilot projects are also foreseen. As a retailer, we work on more sustainable packagings on our store shelves through many large and small projects.
Science-Based Targets Initiative
In May 2022, Colruyt Group has committed to defining new emission reduction targets and having them validated according to the scientifically underpinned criteria and methodology of the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
Concretely, we are tightening the ambition level of our current CO2 reduction targets for scope 1 and 2 (own operations) of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. For scope 3 (the value chain), we will formulate objectives for the first time, mainly targeted at the dialogue with our suppliers and the sales of fossil fuels. Annually, we will report about our progress, and adjust and/or expand our objectives where needed.
Green Consumption Pledge
In January 2021, Colruyt Group was one of the first endorsers of the European Green Consumption Pledge , whereby a number of leading companies voluntarily committed themselves to promote more sustainable consumption and production patterns. Specifically, we made a commitment to reduce our own ecological footprint and to clearly communicate our sustainability approach to consumers and other stakeholders. In that way, we promote the dialogue in society and we create a common basis for increasing sustainability further.
EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices
In July 2021, Colruyt Group co-endorsed the European ‘Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices’. With it, companies in the retail sector and food industry commit to improving their performance and communication in the area of sustainability. In concrete terms, we are committed to promoting more sustainable consumption patterns and to reducing the ecological footprint of food products.
Our partnerships
We exchange knowledge and experiences with committed, like-minded partners via partnerships.
CIFAL Flanders
Colruyt Group is a partner organisation of the ‘SDG Learning Network’ of CIFAL Flanders, the Flemish expertise centre for the Sustainable Development Goals.
By integrating sustainability into all aspects of our entrepreneurship, we actively contribute to the realisation of these 17 sustainability goals of the United Nations. As 'SDG Voice', we keep pulling the cart together with other pacesetters - in Belgium and outside of it.
The Shift
The Shift is a network of diverse Belgian organisations and companies, united around a common goal: actively striving together towards a more sustainable economy and society. The Sustainable Development Goals form a joint framework that connects, commits and motivates its members to undertake action. At Colruyt Group as well, we see companies as a major engine for change. Through our membership of The Shift, we connect with a wider network of sustainability pioneers and can take action together.