Partnership with Coop 2023
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
In January 2022, Coop joined the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and committed to reducing its emissions based on science-based targets. In this way, Coop not only continues to reduce its operational footprint, but also indirect emissions such as emissions from traded products. Already 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.
Coop is pursuing a reduction path for the Scopes 1-2 in line with the SBTi
Coop has set itself the target of reducing absolute CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to 2018; the target applies to Scopes 1 and 2 in accordance with the GHG Protocol. The target is measured in tonnes of CO2eq per year. The scope is the Coop Group.
In 2023, the CO2 emissions of the Coop Group (Scope 1 and 2) were 284’804 tonnes CO2eq.
Note: A restatement (increase) of CO2 emissions had to be made for 2022, as non-usable electricity certificates were used for Transgourmettg Poland, which were replaced with usable certificates for 2023.
Coop pursues a reduction path for Scope 3 agreed with SBTi
Coop has set itself the goal of following a reduction path agreed with SBTI for Scope 3 in accordance with the GHG Protocol. The measurement is in tonnes of CO2eq per year. The scope is the Coop Group.
Coop is currently developing the baseline for SBTI target scope 3.
Milestone 2023: Coop makes CHF 1 million available annually for Scope 3 fairshare/reduction target development. Milestone 2023 has been reached.
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 55’871 tonnes CO2e by 2026. This is measured in tonnes of goods flown in, multiplied by km and CO2e/km. The reporting period was July 2022 to June 2023. The scope is air freight excl. flowers for supermarkets, Pronto, Bau+Hobby, Warehouse, and Coop.ch.
By mid-2023, Coop was able to reduce the absolute CO2e emissions caused by air freight to 66’462 tonnes CO2e.
Comment: Emissions from aviation goods were reduced significantly compared to the previous year, but are still above the target path. Additional measures to reduce greenhouse gases are planned for 2024-26.
Water
Coop is currently developing the basis for setting science-based targets in the area of water.
Proportion of agricultural products from certified Water Stressed Areas
Coop is working on the basis for this target.
Note: Initial data for this target was collected in 2023.
74% of fresh and processed fruit and vegetables (incl. oil and vinegar) have a water standard, for flowers and plants it is 18%. Further raw materials will be selected in the course of 2024 and measures defined.
Reduction of blue and grey water consumption
Coop is developing the basis for this objective.
BIODIVERSITY
Coop is currently developing the basis for setting science-based targets in the area of biodiversity.
Transparency per raw material
Coop has set itself the goal of knowing the origin of 100% of the Forest Risk Commodities (meat, cocoa, coffee, palm oil or wood & paper) in Coop private labels by 2026. The share of Forest Risk Commodities in Coop own brands with known origin (meat, cocoa, coffee, palm oil or wood & paper) is measured. Scope is retail trade until 2024, then retail trade and wholesale.
In 2023, the origin was known for 85% of the forest risk commodities.
Supplier commitment
Coop has set itself the goal that by 2026 100% of direct business partners have a commitment to deforestation- and transformation-free supply chains. The percentage of direct business partners with a commitment to deforestation- and transformation-free supply chains (suppliers of Coop own brands that supply meat, cocoa, coffee, palm oil or wood & paper) is measured.
The scope of application is the own brands in the retail trade.
In 2023, 19% of suppliers had a commitment to deforestation- and transformation-free supply chains.
Note: The portfolio of wood and paper suppliers has been restructured due to the acquisition of JUMBO, which has had a negative impact on target achievement. Wood and paper is the most relevant raw material in terms of quantity.
Certification
Coop has set itself the goal of ensuring that 100% of Forest Risk Commodities meet a minimum standard by 2026.
The percentage of minimum standards (beef, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soy, wood & paper) is measured.
Scope the private labels in the retail trade.
In 2023, the share of Forest Risk Commodities with a minimum standard was 86%.
Note: The valuation method was adjusted, as a result of which the actual values are lower than in the previous year with the same performance.
Beef:
Bio Suisse, origins without deforestation and conversion risk according to WWF report.
Cacao:
Fair Trade, Bio Suisse, Rainforest Alliance
Coffee:
Fair Trade, Bio Suisse, Rainforest Alliance
Palm oil Food:
RSPO Identity Preserved (IP), RSPO Segregated (SG), Bio Suisse
Palm oil Non-Food:
RSPO Identity Preserved (IP), RSPO Segregated (SG), RSPO Mass Balance (MB), Bio Suisse
Soy:
Standards with soy feeding ban, Bio Suisse, Pro Terra, Donau Soja, Europa Soja, RTRS Non GM, Origin Switzerland, Other origins without deforestation and conversion risk according to WWF Report, Mutterkuh, Naturabeef, Naturaveal, IP-Suisse (pasture-raised beef).
Wood and paper:
FSC or recycled or with verified origin ,PEFC or origin without deforestation and conversion risk according to the risk country list of Prefered by Nature*.
Traceability per raw material
Coop has set itself the goal of increasing the proportion with a segregated minimum standard for the raw materials cocoa, coffee and palm oil to 85% by 2026. The scope of application is the retail trade.
In 2023, 60% of cocoa, coffee and palm oil had a segregated minimum standard.
Note: Not enough segregated raw material could be procured for cocoa. When the EUDR comes into force, the foundations for an improvement will be in place.
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-recommendable 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 2023, 100% of the total seafood range once again came from recommendable or acceptable sources.
Coop: Share of recommendable sources according to WWF in the entire seafood 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 2023, 77.3% of the total seafood range came from recommendable sources.
Note: The availability of organic salmon was insufficient, so the 2023 target was missed, but the proportion was increased compared to the previous year. Demand tends to shift towards cheaper products.
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 2023, 68.4% of the overall seafood range was certified with recommendable labels according to WWF.
Note: The availability of organic salmon was insufficient, so the 2023 target was missed, but the proportion was increased.
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 2023, 98.9% of the entire seafood range came from recommendable or acceptable sources.
Note: The expansion of the food service channel led to a decline in the proportion of recommendable or acceptable sources. The food service range is constantly being adjusted and, where possible, switched to more sustainable alternatives.
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 2023, 61.5% of the overall seafood range came from recommendable sources.
Comment: The proportion of recommendable sources was increased compared to the previous year, but is still below the target path. This was due in particular to the lack of availability of organic salmon. This should be improved next year.
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 2023, 54.3% of the entire seafood range was certified with recommended labels according to WWF.
Comment: The proportion of recommendable labels increased significantly compared to the previous year, but is still below the target path. This was due in particular to the lack of availability of organic salmon. This should be improved next year.
ASSORTMENT
Coop has set the goal of increasing sales of organic products and expanding the range of vegan and vegetarian alternative products.
Increase the number of vegan and vegetarian alternative products
Coop has set the goal of expanding the range of vegan and vegetarian alternative products to 2000 items by 2026.
The number of new articles will be measured.
Meat, fish, egg and dairy substitutes, products of a line deliberately designed and marketed for vegan/vegetarian consumption (Karma)
In 2023, 1900 items of vegan and vegetarian alternative products were listed.
Turnover with organic labels
Coop has set the goal of increasing the turnover of organic products to CHF 2100 million by 2026. Turnover is measured in million CHF. The accepted standards are Bio Suisse, Schweizer Bio, and EU-Bio. The scope is Coop retailers, own brands and third party brands.
In 2023, sales in organic products were CHF 1843 million.
Note: Thanks to the 30th anniversary of Naturaplan and the measures taken, organic sales increased significantly.
