Partnership with Coop 2020
Since 2006, WWF and Coop have been working together in a strategic partnership towards more environmentally-friendly consumption. Coop has made an ambitious commitment to WWF on key environmental issues.
Climate and Energy
Since 2007, Coop has been committed to avoiding and reducing CO2 emissions through a binding reduction path when transporting goods by plane (the largest source of CO2), coop.ch deliveries, and business trips. More about the voluntary climate protection projects here.
Reduction of absolute CO2 emissions by 50% by 2023 compared to 2008
Coop has set the goal of reducing absolute CO2 emissions by 50% by 2023 compared to 2008. This goal applies to all operational emissions and transport and is measured as tonnes of CO2 per year. The scope is the Coop Management with all divisions and distribution channels (CO2 Vision, i.e., without subsidiaries, including transport by third-party enterprises). The reporting period is from July 2019 until June 2020.
By mid-2020, Coop had reduced its CO2 emissions by 37% compared to 2008 (absolute actual value mid-2020: 85,009 tonnes of CO2).
Comment: Due to the Covid-19 situation, the overall retail transport volume has increased massively. At times, certain stores required deliveries several times a day instead of the usual maximum of twice a day. The situation has stabilised somewhat since winter and is expected to ease further.
Reduction of absolute CO2e emissions caused by air freight
Coop has set the goal of reducing the absolute CO2e emissions caused by air freight to 67,000 tonnes CO2e by 2021. This is measured in tonnes of goods flown in, multiplied by km and CO2e/km. The reporting period was July 2019 to June 2020. The scope is air freight excl. flowers for supermarkets, Pronto, Bau+Hobby, Warehouse, and Coop.ch.
By mid-2020, Coop was able to reduce the absolute CO2e emissions caused by air freight to 67,639 tonnes CO2e.
Wood and Paper
Coop is committed to transparent wood sourcing and aims to steadily increase the share of FSC-certified wood and paper products as well as recycled paper.
Paper and wood products from sustainable sources (FSC or recycled)
Coop has set the goal to have 77% of its paper and wood products sourced from sustainable sources by 2021 (20% recycled and 57% FSC certified). This is measured in percent relative to the procurement value. The scope includes the product groups hygiene, baby hygiene, building material, garden, furniture / leisure, plants, household goods (kitchens, food, paper goods, holidays) as well as internal paper consumption. This applies to Coop supermarkets, Pronto, coop.ch, Bau+Hobby, and department stores.
In 2020, 77.9% of the paper and wood products at Coop came from sustainable sources (of which 14.8% recycled and 63.1% FSC-certified).
Comment: With the conversion of Pampers baby nappies to FSC, the FSC proportion in the overall range increased significantly.
In contrast, the recycling proportion in the original 2015 target was assessed too optimistically. Large-volume range items such as toilet paper cannot usually be produced with recycled fibres.
Wood and paper products by origin
Coop has set the goal of increasing the proportion of wood and paper products from sustainable sources while simultaneously reducing the share of products of which the origin is not sufficiently clear, analysed, or verified. This is measured in percent relative to the procurement value. The scope includes the product groups hygiene, baby hygiene, building material, garden, furniture / leisure, plants, household goods (kitchens, food, paper goods, holidays), as well as internal paper consumption. This applies to Coop supermarkets, Pronto, coop.ch, Bau+Hobby, and department stores.
In accordance with the Global Forest & Trade Network of WWF, the terms are understood as follows:
Origin verified: The forest of origin was assessed by an independent party using social and ecological criteria.
Origin analysed: The forest of origin was identified using fundamental criteria of legality and traceability.
Limited knowledge of origin: The origin of the wood (country) is either known or unknown; undesirable origins, such as wood from forest conversions and conflict wood, can be excluded.
Livique: wood products by origin
Livique has set the goal of increasing the share of wood products from sustainable sources while simultaneously reducing the share of products of which the origin is not sufficiently clear, analysed or verified. This is measured as a percentage of net revenue. The scope is Livique (only wood products).
Comment: Further Swiss furniture manufacturers with FSC have gone out of business. Alternative sources have not yet been found.
Explanation of the graph: The interpretation is based on the Global Forest & Trade Network of the WWF:
Origin verified: The forest of origin was assessed by an independent party using social and ecological criteria.
Origin analysed: The forest of origin was identified using fundamental criteria of legality and traceability.
Limited knowledge of origin: The origin of the wood (country) is either known or unknown; undesirable origins, such as wood from forest conversions and conflict wood, can be excluded.
Fish and Seafood
As members of the WWF Seafood Group, Coop and Bell have committed to not offer any species threatened with extinction, to phase out non-sustainable sources, and to continuously expand the proportion of recommendable labels.
Coop: The share of recommendable or acceptable sources according to WWF in the entire seafood range
Coop has set the goal of sourcing 100% of the entire seafood range from recommendable or acceptable sources according to WWF. This is measured as a percentage of the turnover of the total seafood range. The scope comprises Coop supermarkets, Pronto, Coop to go, Coop.ch, department stores, restaurants, and FOOBY.
In 2020, 100% of the total seafood range came from recommendable or acceptable sources.
Coop: Share of recommendable sources according to WWF in the entire range
Coop has set the goal of having 85.8% of the entire seafood range originate from recommendable sources according to WWF by 2024. This is measured as a percentage of the turnover of the total seafood range. The scope is Coop supermarkets, Pronto, Coop to go, Coop.ch, department stores, restaurants, and FOOBY.
In 2020, 64.3% of the total seafood range came from recommendable sources.
Coop: The share of recommendable labels according to WWF (organic, ASC, MSC), in the entire seafood range
Coop has set the goal of having 79.5% of the entire seafood range certified with recommendable labels according to WWF by 2024 (Bio, ASC, MSC). This is measured as a percentage of net turnover. The scope comprises Coop supermarkets, Pronto, Coop to go, Coop.ch, department stores, restaurants, and FOOBY.
In 2020, 54.2% of the overall seafood range was certified with recommendable labels according to WWF.
Bell: The share of recommendable or acceptable sources according to WWF in the entire seafood range
Bell has set the goal of sourcing 99.9% of the overall seafood range from recommendable or acceptable sources according to the WWF by 2024. This is measured as the percentage of turnover of the total seafood range. The scope is Bell Seafood.
In 2020, 99.2% of the entire seafood range came from recommendable or acceptable sources.
Bell: Proportion of recommendable sources according to WWF in the overall range
Bell has set the goal of having 72% of the overall seafood range originate from recommendable sources according to WWF by 2024. This is measured as the percentage of the turnover of the total seafood range. The scope is Bell Seafood.
In 2020, 49.8% of the overall seafood range came from recommendable sources.
Comment: This delay is attributable to the development of new business areas in the food service sector.
Bell: Share of recommended labels by WWF (organic, ASC, MAS) in the entire seafood range
Bell has set the goal of having 66% of the entire seafood range certified with recommended labels according to WWF (organic, ASC, MSC). This is measured as a percentage relative to the net turnover. The scope is Bell seafood.
In 2020, 43.7% of the entire seafood range was certified with recommended labels according to WWF.
Comment: The delay in ASC certification for salmon has meant that the goals have not yet been reached.
Palm Oil
Coop has set the goal of steadily increasing the proportion of sustainably certified palm oil in its own-brand products.
Physically sustainable palm oil in own-brand food products
Coop has set the target of increasing the proportion of physically sustainable palm oil in its own-brand products to 100% by 2021. The share of physically sustainable palm oil is measured as a percentage of the total palm oil used in own-brand food. The accepted standards are RSPO IP, RSPO Segregated, Bio Suisse. The reporting period is October 2019 until September 2020. The scope comprises Coop supermarkets, Pronto, coop.ch, and department stores.
In 2020, the proportion of physically sustainable palm oil in Coop's own-brand food products was 99.9%.
Certified palm oil in own-brand products Near and Non-food
Coop has set the goal of using 82% certified palm oil in its own-brand near and non-food products by 2021. Measurement is based on the share of sustainable palm oil relative to the overall use of palm oil in own-brand near and non-food products in percent. The accepted standards are RSPO IP, RSPO Segregated, RSPO Mass Balance, and Bio Suisse. The reporting period was October 2019 until September 2020. The scope comprises Coop supermarkets, Pronto, coop.ch, Bau+Hobby, and department stores.
In 2020, 80% of the palm oil used in Coop own-brand near and non-food products was certified.
Comment: Some suppliers reported excessive quantities of certified palm oil in the past which led to a distorted share. This data collection problem has since been resolved and the data has been verified.
Coverage of remaining palm oil in own-brand products with RSPO Book & Claim certificates
Coop has set the goal of covering 100% of the remaining palm oil in own-brand products with RSPO Book & Claim certificates. The proportion of RSPO Book & Claim certificates is measured as a percentage of the total use of palm oil in own brands that is not certified in accordance with RSPO or Bio Suisse. The reporting period is October 2018 to September 2019. The scope comprises Coop supermarkets, Pronto, coop.ch, Bau+Hobby, and department stores.
In 2019, 100% of the remaining palm oil in own-brand products was covered by RSPO Book & Claim certificates.
Other Raw Materials
Coop has made an ambitious commitment to WWF with regard to cotton, cocoa, coffee, fruits & vegetables, and peat.
Peat: Reduction of peat in soils, entire range
Coop has set the goal of no longer selling peat-containing soils by 2020. The share of peat in all soils sold is measured. The scope comprises Coop supermarkets, Pronto, Bau+Hobby, and department stores.
In 2020, the proportion of peat in all soils sold was 0%.
Cotton: increasing the share of sustainability labels in the clothing and home textiles range
Coop has set the goal of increasing the share of sustainability labels in clothing and home textiles range to 83% by 2021. Measured is the share of the procurement value of own-brand label products in total turnover of own-brand with a cotton content > 50%. The accepted standards are Fairtrade, Bio Suisse, bioRe, Better Cotton Initiative, Cotton made in Africa, and Organic Cotton Standard. The scope comprises the clothing and home textile range in Coop supermarkets, Pronto, coop.ch, and department stores.
In 2020, the share of the product range with sustainability labels was 80.6%.
Coffee: Coffee with a sustainability standard
Coop has set the goal of increasing the proportion of coffee with a sustainable standard to 100% by 2021. Measurement is based on the share of procurement value of own-brand coffee powder, beans, and capsules, instant coffee powder, and all own-brand products with at least 50% sustainable coffee content. The accepted standards are Fairtrade, Bio Suisse, UTZ, and Rainforest Alliance. The scope comprises Coop supermarkets, Pronto, coop.ch, Bau+Hobby, and department stores.
In 2020, the share of sustainable coffee was 99.8%.
Cocoa: Cocoa products with sustainability rating
Coop has set the goal of offering only cocoa products with sustainability standards by 2020. Measurement is based on the share of procurement value of own-brand chocolate products and bars, pralines, cocoa powder, as well as all own-brand products with a minimum of 50% cocoa content that meet the sustainability standard. The accepted standards are Fairtrade, Bio Suisse, UTZ, Rainforest Alliance. The scope comprises Coop supermarkets, Pronto, coop.ch, Bau+Hobby, and department stores.
In 2020, the share of cocoa products with sustainability standards was 96.6%.
Comment: It is particularly difficult to obtain certified quality in the speciality sector (such as fine food). Therefore, the transition to 100 percent sales of certified cocoa products will remain a challenge.
Fruit and vegetables: Fresh fruit and vegetables certified with GlobalGAP or SwissGAP
Coop has set the goal of procuring only fresh fruit and vegetables certified with GobalGAP or SwissGAP by 2020. The certified share is measured as a percentage of the procurement value of fresh fruit and vegetables. The accepted standards are GlobalGAP, SwissGAP, or standards considered equivalent by GlobalGAP. The scope comprises Coop supermarkets, Pronto, coop.ch, and department stores.
In 2020, the proportion certified with GobalGAP or SwissGAP amounted to 98.7%.
Fruit and vegetables: Fresh fruit and vegetables from regions with significant water stress, with a water standard being developed
Coop has set the goal of ensuring that by 2020, 75% of the fruit and vegetables from regions facing significant water stress have a water standard in development. Measured is the proportion of the procurement value of fresh fruit and vegetables from countries with significant water stress with a standard being developed, relative to the total procurement value of fresh fruit and vegetables from countries with significant water stress. The accepted standards are SPRING, EWS, AWS, BioSuisse. The scope comprises Coop supermarkets, Pronto, coop.ch, and department stores.
In 2020, the proportion of fruit and vegetables with a water standard amounted to 56.4%.
Comment: The rollout of the SPRING water standard is going slower than planned. It will be continued next year.
Sustainable Consumption
Coop has set the goal of continuously increasing its turnover of organic products.
Turnover with organic labels
Coop has set the goal of increasing the turnover of organic products to CHF 1,630 million by 2021. Turnover is measured in million CHF. The accepted standards are Bio Suisse, Schweizer Bio, and EU-Bio. The scope is Coop retailers.
In 2020, sales in organic products were CHF 1,683 million.
Comment: Customers stayed at home more during the lockdown, cooked more and had a greater disposable income (less travel, fewer expenses outside the home, etc.) which was invested in high-quality foods.
Efficient light bulbs with energy-efficiency class A and better
Coop has set the goal of increasing the proportion of efficient light bulbs with energy-efficiency class A and better to 100% by 2021. Measured is the turnover share of energy efficient light bulbs in the total turnover of all light bulbs, excluding speciality bulbs. The scope comprises Coop supermarkets, Pronto, coop.ch, Bau+Hobby, and department stores.
In 2020, the share of efficient light bulbs with energy-efficiency class A and better amounted to 79%.
Comment: Coop still sells relatively large volumes of short FL tubes which are only available in efficiency class B.
Livique and Lumimart: Efficient light bulbs and lights with energy-efficiency class A and better
Coop Livique and Lumimart have set the goal of increasing the share of efficient light bulbs with energy-efficient class A and better to 100% by 2020. Measured is the net turnover of all bulbs sold separately with energy-efficiency class A or better or LED, plus net turnover of all lights with integrated bulbs with energy-efficiency class A or better or LED, divided by the net turnover of all bulbs sold separately which have a mandatory energy-efficiency class or are LEDs, plus the net turnover of all lights with integrated bulbs that have a mandatory energy-efficiency class or are LEDs (not taken into account are lights that do not have bulbs and components, such as starters, which do not have bulbs). The scope comprises Coop Livique and Coop Lumimart.
In 2020, the share of efficient bulbs with energy-efficiency class A and better amounted to 96.2%.
