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2014 Registration Document
Social responsibility
2
Action plans
2.2.2.5
Waste Reduction/water:
preserving resources
◗
Reducing water consumption and pollution
In 2013, Carrefour conducted an analysis of its water-related issues:
direct and indirect depletion, direct and indirect discharge of organic
materials, pesticides, industrial discharge, waterproofing and changes
in land use, deforestation, etc. Carrefour is committed to measuring and
reducing its stores’ water consumption as well as addressing the issue
of water in its procurement chain and during product use.
◗
Reducing stores’ water consumption
Water consumption varies depending on the size and activities of the store.
The activities that use the most water are: food preparation (meat, fish,
bread, pastries and deli), cleaning equipment and floors, ice for seafood
displays, hand-washing and staff restrooms, and watering indoor plants
and outside green spaces.
From 2010 to 2014, water consumption per m² dropped by 8.9% at
Group level. This is the result of a long process involving consumption
monitoring and awareness raising as well as country action plans to
reduce consumption and limit leakage.
Stores around the world are gradually adopting solutions to limit
consumption, such as water-saving taps, motion-detection taps or
water-free urinals, and systems for collecting and recycling rainwater
for non-drinking use – a solution that could reduce a hypermarket’s
consumption by 10%.
2014
2013
2012
% vs. 12
Quantity of water consumed
(m
3
/m
2
of sales area)
1.59
1.68
1.74
(8.9)%
Like-for-like BUs (scope: 91% of 2014 consolidated sales, excl. VAT) - excluding: HM: BE, AR/SM: BE, AR.
◗
Promoting water-friendly procurement
Carrefour helps its suppliers with their water management through
initiatives including specifications for Carrefour Quality Line products
and the sustainable development self-diagnostic tool provided to suppliers
of Carrefour products. Some Carrefour Quality Line farmers, for example,
use the innovative technique of drip irrigation to prevent water loss
through evaporation.
◗
Offering products with a small water footprint and
raising customer awareness
Carrefour has improved the environmental characteristics of its own-brand
plant care products for the garden. In 2009, the Group discontinued
sales under its brand of pesticides containing glyphosate, a substance
classified as toxic for aquatic organisms. In anticipation of new regulations
coming into effect in 2022, the Group keeps raising awareness among
its customers about the use of plant care products compatible with
organic agriculture.
The Group offers a product range to limit water pollution and consumption:
water-saving fixtures (mixer taps), rainwater collectors, eco-certified
cleaning products, etc. These products are regularly highlighted in
catalogue pages, including a spread in honour of World Water Day.
KEY FIGURES
5.8
%water saved in one year per m
2
of sales area Group-
wide
15.5
million m
3
consumed at Group stores in 2014
2.2.2.6
Integrating waste reduction into
merchandise-related operations
◗
Reducing packaging waste
Store activities generate packaging waste of various kinds: mainly
secondary packaging (such as packing for shipment) but also paper,
check-out bags and, to a lesser extent, plastic and scrap metal. The Group
has long been implementing a policy of reducing waste at source. As such
the warehouses are also involved in efforts to reduce packaging waste.
To reduce waste in France and Spain, for example, the Group is replacing
the boxes and crates used for the transportation of goods with reusable
plastic trays, and is rolling out shelf-ready packaging which is secondary
packaging that can be used to display products. Shelf-ready packaging
is lighter and lower in volume.
In France, some warehouses have begun using 100%-recyclable
cardboard pallets. Weighing only 3.3 kg compared to the 20 kg of a
wooden pallet, this recyclable cardboard version reduces waste while
improving handling conditions and significantly reducing the tonnages
transported.
◗
Eliminating unnecessary packaging for customers
Spain launched a new initiative in 2014 to systematically eliminate
unnecessary packaging (for protection, preservation, transport, etc.).
The teams responsible for Carrefour brand product packaging have
identified 12 strategic levers for redesigning packaging in order to reduce
it and optimise lorry load volumes. The packaging design teams for
national brand products are also involved. 320 Carrefour employees
were trained in 2014 in Spain and France. The Spanish teams estimate
that this saves more than €6 million per year.