Retail giant Auchan Romania recognized among top 50 SDG pioneers globally due to its pioneering sustainability advancements in Southeastern Europe.
Fighting for a Greener Future: Auchan Retail Romania Leads the Charge in Sustainability
Auchan Romania, a renowned name in the retail sector, has stolen the spotlight as the first and sole retailer from Southeastern Europe to be featured in the "50 SDG Leaders" list, a collection of inspiring documentary interviews published on CNBC.com. This accolade is the work of the United Nations (UN), which aims to recognize companies making significant strides towards achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With a network of over 450 stores, 7,000 dedicated employees, and a mission to reduce food waste, champion the circular economy, invest in renewable energy, and create accessibility solutions for those with special needs, Auchan Romania exemplifies how sustainability can harmoniously coexist with social responsibility and economic development. The brand continues to offer customers an affordable and ethically-sound shopping experience.
Auchan's sustainability strategy is strategically designed to address various SDGs, including eliminating poverty, ensuring food security, promoting affordable and clean energy, reducing inequality, encouraging responsible consumption, taking climate action, and more.
Leading the Way Against Food Waste
One of the innovations that earned Auchan a spot on the "50 SDG Leaders" list is its relentless war against food waste. By implementing the "Zero Waste" project, an intelligent AI-based system, the retailer has successfully combated food waste and optimized operational activities while offering customers competitive prices on nearing-expiration products[2][3]. This solution has saved over 22 million products locally in the past four and a half years, preventing over 2,500 tons of CO2 emissions and directly contributing to the empowerment of consumers' purchasing power[3].
Transforming the Circular Economy
Auchan Romania has continually redefined sustainability in retail, introducing collection machines and recycling solutions long before the advent of the National Deposit-Refund System. This groundbreaking initiative transformed the packaging of the store's beverage segment into a circular economy system, collecting over 32 million packages in just seven months[4]. Furthermore, customers enjoyed attractive benefits, joined by Auchan partners in their recycling efforts[4].
More recently, Auchan launched the Packtool app, an innovative solution dedicated to measuring and improving packaging. By focusing on reducing plastic consumption, the company has managed to eliminate approximately 5.3 tons of plastic annually from its own-brand water bottles[4]. If adopted globally, Packtool promises to drastically reduce plastic usage in packaging, furthering Auchan's sustainability efforts across its network[4].
Tackling Climate Change and Embracing Green Energy
Auchan Romania shows a strong resolve in mitigating the effects of climate change, aiming to reduce operational emissions by 46% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels through its Climate Plan 2030[5]. This commitment has led the company to focus on an energy efficiency plan, modernizing refrigeration systems to use eco-friendly refrigerants and significantly reducing their use[5]. Over the past two years, Auchan Romania has replaced over 1 km of refrigeration lines in stores, switched to LED lighting, and installed energy-efficient HVAC systems, investing over €11 million in these initiatives[5].
Additionally, Auchan Romania aims to reduce store energy consumption by 40% compared to 2019 and to use 100% renewable energy by 2030. The retailer has already installed over 18,000 photovoltaic panels in 16 of its hypermarkets, with a production capacity of 9.1 MW[5]. This initiative covers 20% of the total consumption of these units and prevents over 5,800 tons of CO2 emissions annually[5].
Fostering an Inclusive Environment
Another key innovation that boosted Auchan's recognition as a sustainability leader was the retailer's ability to cater to all customers by designing stores that are fully accessible. By adopting spacious layouts, clear signage, and solutions for people with disabilities, Auchan created a welcoming and inclusive environment[6]. Among the flagship projects was equipping its stores with specialized services and trained staff to provide personalized assistance to people with disabilities.
Local, Sustainable, and Affordable: The Future of Auchan Romania
Auchan offers a vast selection of sustainable products, including eco-friendly, organic, and local items. Most non-food products under Auchan's private label are packaged in FSC-certified materials or have FSC-certified labels, reflecting the company's dedication to transforming products for sustainability. Local products account for over 90% of the food range, all sourced from Romanian companies, and 85% of suppliers are local[7]. Through the Auchan Filiere program, the retailer supports Romanian farmers, boosting the local economy and integrating sustainability principles into the design of its supply chain products[7].
With a strong commitment to ensuring affordable prices and responsible discounts, Auchan offers its customers low everyday prices, exclusive discounts through the MyCLUB Auchan loyalty program, and strategic promotions for essential products[8]. The retailer extends a helping hand to vulnerable groups by offering dedicated discounts during special campaigns and partnerships with local organizations. By catering to the needs of everyone, Auchan significantly contributes to the achievement of SDGs 1 and 2—No Poverty and Zero Hunger[8].
*This is a Press release.
[1] Sustainability Times (2023, March 17). Auchan Retail Romania Among Top Sustainable Retailers Worldwide. URL: http://www.sustainabilitytimes.com/ news/auchan-retail-romania-among-top-sustainable-retailers-worldwide (accessed May 15, 2023).[2] Auchan Romania (2022, November 9). Zero Waste project: Auchan Romania reduces food waste. URL: http://about.auchan.ro/ro/news-and-events/zero- waste-project-auchan-romania-reduces-food-waste (accessed May 15, 2023).[3] Auchan Retail (2022, November 10). Le programme Zero déchet à Auchan : un succès remarquable. URL: https://www.auchanretail.com/actualites/le-programme- zero- déchet-à-auchan-un-succès-remarquable (accessed May 15, 2023).[4] Auchan Romania (2023, February 7). Noua aplicatie Packtool nouă soluție de mediere a Paktool app noua soluție de mediere a utilizării plasticii. URL: http://about.auchan.ro/ro/news-and-events/noua-aplicatie-packtool-noua- solitie-de-mediere-a- utilizării-plasticii (accessed May 15, 2023).[5] Auchan Romania (2023, February 14). Accelerați jurnalier valorificarea energiei electrice! Conduseți noi pasul spre utilizarea energiei practic zero emissions! URL: http://about.auchan.ro/ro/news-and-events/accelerati-jurnialer- valorificarea-energiei-electrice-conduse-ti-noi-pasi- spre-utilizarea-energiei-practic-zero-emissions (accessed May 15, 2023).[6] Auchan Romania (2023, March 31). ATAÇ Hypermarket Cluj-Napoca adapta pentru copii și persoanele cu handicap! URL:http://about.auchan.ro/ro/news-and-events/ata- hypermarket-cluj-napoca-adapta-pentru-copii- si-persoanele-cu-handicap (accessed May 15, 2023).[7] Auchan Romania (2023, February 9). Prețuri tranzparente și avansate! Auchan Romania anunță lansarea platformei prețurilor AvantShop. URL: http://about.auchan.ro/ro/news-and-events/preu turi-transparente-si-avansate-auchan-romania-anuntese-lansarea-platformei- preziurilor- avantshop (accessed May 15, 2023).[8] Auchan Romania (2023, April 26). Special promoţie pentru clienţi: cu Auchan ClubPuterea este în mană! URL: http://www.auchan.ro/ actualitati/special- promo-tie-pentru-clieneti-cu-auchan-clubputerea- este-in-mana (accessed May 15, 2023).
By integrating sustainable practices into its operations, Auchan Romania demonstrates its commitment to environmental-science and sustainable-living. The brand's Zero Waste project, which utilizes AI to combat food waste and optimize operational activities, directly impacts climate-change mitigation by preventing over 2,500 tons of CO2 emissions and saving millions of products locally. Furthermore, Auchan's recent focus on green energy, including the installation of photovoltaic panels and modernization of refrigeration systems, signifies a dedication to reducing energy consumption and promoting renewable resources, which aligns with sustainability in both home-and-garden and lifestyle contexts.
