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Partnership with Coop 2021

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.

Industry
Retail Trade
Type of partnership
Sustainable Business Partnerships
Financial contribution 2021 (in CHF)
more than 3'000'000 CHF
Partner since
2006
Coop

CLIMATE AND ENERGY

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.

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 2020 until June 2021. 

By mid-2021, Coop had reduced its CO2 emissions by 36% compared to 2008 (absolute actual value mid-2021: 86’403 tonnes of CO2).

Actual Value
Target Value

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 2020 to June 2021. The scope is air freight excl. flowers for supermarkets, Pronto, Bau+Hobby, Warehouse, and Coop.ch.

By mid-2021, Coop was able to reduce the absolute CO2e emissions caused by air freight to 87’495 tonnes CO2e.

Actual Value
Target Value

Comment: After several years of overachievement of the jointly defined reduction path for airborne goods emissions, the value in 2021 is significantly above the target. Reasons include corona-related poor availability of goods, import of face masks by airplane, and increased sales of airborne goods.

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FSC-certified wood from the Solomon Islands

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 2021, 76% of the paper and wood products at Coop came from sustainable sources (of which 16.4% recycled and  59.7% FSC-certified).

Sustainable Sources
...of which recycled
...of which FSC-certified
Growth targets
Reduction targets

Comment: There was a supply bottleneck for newsprint, which affected the total volume. The recycled content of some products could not be increased for quality reasons.

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.

Sustainable Sources
Origin verified
Origin analysed
Limited knowledge of origin
Growth targets
Reduction targets

Comment: Supply bottlenecks necessitated a temporary switch to non-certified origins.

Explanation of the graph: 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).

Sustainable Sources
Origin verified
Origin analysed
Limited knowledge of origin
Growth targets
Reduction targets

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.

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Seafood at a market in Japan

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 2021, 100% of the total seafood range once again came from recommendable or acceptable sources.

Actual Value
Target Value

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 2021,  67.6% of the total seafood range came from recommendable sources.

Actual Value
Target Value

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 2021,  58.1% of the overall seafood range was certified with recommendable labels according to WWF.

Actual Value
Target Value

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 2021, 99.3% of the entire seafood range came from recommendable or acceptable sources.

Actual Value
Target Value

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 2021,  50.5% of the overall seafood range came from recommendable sources.

Actual Value
Target Value

Comment: The conversion of the fresh salmon range to ASC-certified salmon has been delayed and has resulted in targets not being met this 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 2021,  45.4% of the entire seafood range was certified with recommended labels according to WWF.

Actual Value
Target Value

Comment: The conversion of the fresh salmon range to ASC-certified salmon has been delayed and has resulted in targets not being met this year.

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Palmölfrucht

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 2020 until September 2021. The scope comprises Coop supermarkets, Pronto, coop.ch, and department stores.

In 2021, the proportion of physically sustainable palm oil in Coop's own-brand food products was 98.9%.

Actual Value
Target Value

Comment: 0.9% of the outstanding palm oil shares come from traceable EU organic certified productions that actively promote fair trade and organic farming.

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 2020 until September 2021. The scope comprises Coop supermarkets, Pronto, coop.ch, Bau+Hobby, and department stores.

In 2021, 90.6% of the palm oil used in Coop own-brand near and non-food products was certified.

Actual Value
Target Value

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 2020 to September 2021. The scope comprises Coop supermarkets, Pronto, coop.ch, Bau+Hobby, and department stores.

In 2021, 100% of the remaining palm oil in own-brand products was covered by RSPO Book & Claim certificates.
 

Actual Value
Target Value
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Kaffeebohnen

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 2021, the proportion of peat in all soils sold was 0%.

Actual Value
Target Value

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 2021, the share of the product range with sustainability labels was  86.3%.

Actual Value
Target Value

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 2021, the share of sustainable coffee was 99.9%.

Actual Value
Target Value

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 2021, the share of cocoa products with sustainability standards was  95.3%.

Actual Value
Target Value

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 2021, the proportion certified with GobalGAP or SwissGAP amounted to  99.2%.

Actual Value
Target Value

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 2021, the proportion of fruit and vegetables with a water standard amounted to 71.2%.

Actual Value
Target Value

Comment: In 2021, Coop focused on the rollout of the SPRING water standard. Due to labor shortages at producers, implementation on site was sometimes difficult, which led to delays.

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Woman with shopping bag buys vegetables

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 2021, sales in organic products were CHF  1'758 million.

Actual Value
Target Value

Coop Projects

WWF recommends Oecoplan

Coop Oecoplan is an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional non-food products. The label makes an important contribution to more sustainable consumption – which is precisely why the WWF recommends Oecoplan.

Coop-WWF climate protection projects

Since 2007, we have been working together to implement climate protection projects that have a positive impact on our climate, people, and local biodiversity.

Philippines: Sustainable tuna fishing

This WWF funding project strives to ensure the sustainably recovery of the yellow-fin tuna population in the waters of the Philippines, with the planned MSC certification of local hand-line fishing. Coop and Bell are project partners.