CO2-neutral by 2023

The retail trade also generates CO2 emissions. It thus also has a responsibility to help protect the environment. In 2004, Coop was the first major retailer in Switzerland to enter into specific CO2 target agreements with the Confederation.

Realizing that even more must be done to protect the environment, the Executive Committee took the courageous decision in 2008 to become CO2-neutral within 15 years, i.e. by 2023, in areas on which Coop can exert a direct influence. The vision "CO2-neutral by 2023" comprises all sales outlets, distribution centres, the forwarding segment, manufacturing companies, Coop administration and all business trips. Moreover, numerous other divisions of the Coop Group such as Interdiscount and Toptip are also included. This represents a total annual volume of CO2 emissions amounting to over 100,000 tonnes. For Coop, CO2-neutral means, first and foremost, that all technically feasible and financially viable measures will be taken so as to reduce Coop's energy requirements by almost 20% by 2023 and CO2 emissions by almost 60% compared with 2008. The portion of CO2 emissions that cannot be avoided or which would be disproportionately expensive to avoid will be offset via suitable projects in Switzerland and abroad.

To reduce CO2 emissions Coop is implementing a number of different measures:

• All work on newly built or renovated sales outlets will be systematically in line with the Minergie standard
• Use of CO2 as a cooling agent – this will save electricity and reduce the impact of leaks on the environment by a factor of 4,000
• Use unavoidable waste heat from cooling equipment to heat buildings and water
• Heat with wood shavings
• Use LED technology for lighting – this will reduce electricity consumption for lighting by over 40%
• Use biomass as fuel – in 2008 alone, around 12,000 tonnes of green waste was collected at Coop distribution and logistics centres
• Low-CO2 electricity procurement – 100% hydroelectric power from Switzerland and Europe as of 2010
  :: Read Coop's media dossier on energy and CO2 (Link in German)

Did you know that Coop also promotes sustainable construction?
:: Sale of Minergie-P homes at Coop Building & Hobby (Link in German)