Case: Coop, Sweden
IN-SHOP: Environmental Management Systems
Who: COOP
Country: Sweden
Objective: The Coop/KF goal is “To grow by responding to growing consumer demand for environmentally and socially sustainable consumption”.
Description of initiative: KF’s environmental work was formalized in early 1970s by setting up an environmental council and environmental care laboratory.
Currently, Coop has own environmental management system (EMS) based on ISO 14000 principles, but it is not officially certified according to the international standard. In 2007, Coop/KF adopted a sustainable development policy, with operational objectives to reduce climate impact, among other goals.
Since then, the climate target was intensified for the Group to be carbon neutral 2020. Other areas of priority for Coop and KF group are: electricity consumption, transport, waste and recycling, range and sale of organic and fair trade products, collaboration with consumer cooperative movements and owners, relations with employees, business partners and development of other social relationships. Each area has clear and measurable targets and the progressed is monitored on an annual basis.
CEO of Coop has overarching responsibility for environmental work. There is also an appointed environmental manager at Coop level, and many stores have environmental, health and safety managers.
As part of environmental work all Coop stores in Sweden have received KRAV certification in 2008. The goal for 2010 is to certify all shops according to Nordic Swan. Employees of all stores received education in connection with certification.
Coop's purchasing company Cilab and Coop Trading have a Code of Conduct, based on ILO principles. Coop is a member of the BSCI that makes inspections and audits working conditions in supply chains. In addition, for inspections outside EU, Coop is collaborating with IFOAM-accredited audit organisation. Coop also conducts own supplier audits. Within Europe, Coop uses Aranea and other certification bodies to ensure good environmental and social standards in supply chains. Coop is also working on developing and supporting local Swedish producers.
Coop/KF supports and endorses the UN initiative for corporate responsibility, Global Compact, and its 10 principles for responsible business. In 2009, KF implemented its sustainability reporting framework under the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) at level C, as confirmed by the auditing firm KPMG.
Effect of initiative: The results of the long term environmental management work of Coop for 2009 are presented in table 1 below.
Time period: The internal environmental management system has been developing since 1970s
Future work: Fulfilment of set targets in strategic areas.
Download Table 1: Results of environmental management work at Coop in 2009 (KF 2009: p. 28-29) (PDF, 252KB)
More information
Contact
Magnus Nelin, presschef KF and Coop, Obfuscated Email , + 46 8 743 23 33
Staffan Eklund, Sustainability co-ordinator The Swedish Co-operative Union (KF), Obfuscated Email , + 46 8 743 26 91