Southeastern Europe's retail leader, Auchan Romania, celebrates inclusion in the prestigious "50 SDG Leaders" list due to its groundbreaking sustainability initiatives.
Auchan Retail Romania Leads the Sustainable Frontier
Breaking barriers and serving as an inspiration, Auchan Retail Romania sets the standard for sustainability in retail, earning its place as the lone retailer from Southeastern Europe in the prestigious "50 SDG Leaders" roster. This esteemed group, showcased on CNBC.com, highlights companies propelling the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), fostering a more equitable economy and a sustainable future.
With a vast network of over 450 stores, employing more than 7,000 individuals, and tirelessly working to curb food waste, reinforce the circular economy, invest in clean energy, and develop solutions for differently-abled individuals, Auchan Romania showcases that sustainability walks hand in hand with social responsibility and economic growth, all while providing customers with an affordable and socially responsible shopping experience.
Auchan's comprehensive sustainability strategy targets a range of SDGs, including:
- No Poverty (Goal 1)
- Zero Hunger (Goal 2)
- Affordable and Clean Energy (Goal 7)
- Reduced Inequality (Goal 10)
- Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12)
- Climate Action (Goal 13)
The "50 SDG Leaders" documentary series spotlights the achievements and tireless endeavors of a select group of companies upholding the SDGs' core principles. Moreover, this initiative aims to raise awareness of the urgent call for sustainability measures. The "50 SDG Leaders" project aims to emphasize the business sector's pivotal role in driving change.
Standing Tall in the Fight Against Food Waste
One of Auchan's groundbreaking innovations, featured in the "50 SDG Leaders" series, is its relentless battle against food waste. Introduced in Romania, the "Zero Waste" project is an intelligent AI-based system that simultaneously combats food waste, optimizes operational tasks, and offers affordable products near their expiration dates to customers.
Since its inception, this solution has saved over 22 million products within four and a half years, prevented more than 2,500 tons of CO2 emissions, and strengthened Auchan's position as a leader in the fight against food waste.
Champion in Circular Economy
Auchan Romania continuously pushes the boundaries of sustainability in retail, spearheading the shift toward a circular economy long before the implementation of the National Deposit-Refund System. By investing millions in the development of collection machines, Auchan offered customers a user-friendly recycling solution, revolutionizing the packaging of the store's beverage segment into a circular system.
Recently, Auchan unveiled the innovative Packtool app, a technology dedicated to measuring and enhancing packaging, with a particular focus on reducing plastic consumption. Through this technology, the company managed to remove 5.3 tons of plastic annually from its own-brand water bottles, a global initiative destined to significantly reduce plastic consumption in packaging in the near future.
Climate Hero and Green Power Advocate
Dedicated to minimizing the global warming effects, Auchan Romania aims to reduce operational emissions from Scope 1 and 2 by 46% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. To achieve this goal, the company has focused on an energy efficiency plan, modernizing refrigeration systems to use eco-friendly refrigerants, drastically reducing their usage. In the past two years, Auchan Romania has refurbished 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.
Additionally, Auchan Romania aims to decrease store energy consumption by 40% compared to 2019 and to utilize 100% renewable energy by 2030. To support this ambition, the retailer has installed over 18,000 photovoltaic panels in 16 of its hypermarkets, producing 9.1 MW of power, covering 20% of the total consumption of these units and averting over 5,800 tons of CO2 emissions annually. In 2023, Auchan introduced Auchan Renewable Energy, Romania and the Auchan Group's first company dedicated to energy distribution, making a significant stride towards the realization of its climate objectives.
Empathy Champion for Inclusive Services
Auchan's commitment to accessibility and inclusivity has received recognition among sustainability leaders. The retailer has transformed the shopping experience for all customers by tailoring its stores to accommodate everyone, ensuring a friendly and inclusive environment. A flagship initiative for Auchan is the installation of specialized services and the training of staff to offer personalized assistance for individuals with disabilities.
Sustainable Choices for Local Products
Auchan's product range includes an extensive variety of sustainable options, such as eco-friendly, organic, and locally-sourced products, with packaging that is recyclable or biodegradable for certain gastro items. Moreover, most non-food products under Auchan's private label are packaged in Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified materials or have FSC-certified labels, showcasing the company's commitment to transforming products for sustainability.
Auchan's food strategy centers around local products, with over 90% of the food range sourced from Romanian companies, and 85% of suppliers being local. Through the Auchan Filiere program, the retailer aids Romanian farmers, fostering economic growth and incorporating sustainability principles into the design of its supply chain products, promoting sustainable agriculture and responsible nutrition.
Affordable Prices and Sustainable Discounts
Empowering consumers and preserving purchasing power are essential for Auchan. The retailer offers competitive prices every day, exclusive discounts through the MyCLUB Auchan loyalty program, and strategic promotions for essential products. Additionally, the retailer supports vulnerable communities with dedicated discounts through special campaigns and partnerships with local organizations, ensuring that all customers have access to basic products, thus furthering the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2 - No Poverty and Zero Hunger.
About Auchan Romania
Auchan Romania operates over 450 stores, comprising 26 classic hypermarkets, 7 ATAC Hyper Discount stores, 9 supermarkets, the smart store Auchan Go, almost 400 MyAuchan ultra-proximity stores, most of which are positioned within Petrom gas stations, 17 Simply by Auchan franchise stores, and the online store www.auchan.ro. With a 2023 turnover of over €1.6 billion, Auchan offers the residents of the cities it serves an omnichannel, advanced, top-quality shopping experience, featuring the widest product ranges and a responsible discount concept, ensuring low prices every day.
*This is a Press Release.
- As a leading pioneer, Auchan Retail Romania's unwavering commitment to sustainability in the retail sector places it on the world stage, being the sole retailer from Southeastern Europe recognized in the "50 SDG Leaders."
- The comprehensive sustainability strategy of Auchan Romania, encompassing goals such as No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Affordable and Clean Energy, Reduced Inequality, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, and more, is spotlighted in the prestigious "50 SDG Leaders" documentary series.
- In the fight against food waste, Auchan Romania's "Zero Waste" project, showcased in the series, employs AI technology to reduce food waste, optimize tasks, and offer discounted products near expiration dates, saving over 22 million products and preventing more than 2,500 tons of CO2 emissions since its inception.
- Demonstrating the retailer's dedication to a circular economy, Auchan Romania has invested millions in collection machines for customer-friendly recycling, innovating the beverage packaging segment, and developing the Packtool app to measure and reduce plastic consumption.
- Combatting climate change, Auchan Romania strives to cut operational emissions by 46% by 2030, refurbishing refrigeration lines, switching to LED lighting, and installing energy-efficient HVAC systems, while also aiming to use only renewable energy by 2030 and produce 9.1 MW of power through photovoltaic panels.
- Auchan Romania champions accessibility and inclusivity for people with disabilities, tailoring its stores to accommodate everyone and offering personalized assistance, while its food strategy prioritizes locally sourced products and promotes sustainable agriculture and responsible nutrition.
- To empower consumers and preserve purchasing power, Auchan Romania offers affordable prices, strategic promotions, and a loyalty program, while also supporting vulnerable communities with special discounts through carefully designed campaigns and partnerships with local organizations.
