Carrefour has started to look around among its suppliers (651) to identify the "greenest" companies that are ahead in adopting environmental sustainability policies. The company asked participants to present their projects, then evaluating them with the consultancy of Fedabo, a leading company in the sector, evaluating their innovative scope and producing a ranking: 7 virtuous companies, each for a reason.
For Carrefour's sales and marketing director, Grégoire Kaufman, the process was natural: since 2011 the company has made a special self-assessment system available to its own-brand suppliers to reduce environmental impact. The consequence? Favor suppliers who believe in a less polluted future and in a less polluting market. This is echoed by Roberta Ianna, representing the Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea, which sponsored the event: according to her, the only way to win on the market and grow in the long term is to respect the environment.
Roberta Ianna was also part of the jury: besides her Mariagrazia Midulla, Climate and Energy Manager of WWF Italy, John Toletti – School of Management, Polytechnic of Milan – Energy & Strategy Group, Emanuel Plata – Planet Life Economy Foundation ONLUS, Lisa casali - Environmental scientist and expert in eco-sustainable cooking, Christine Lazzati– Director Mark UP and GDOWEEK.
Yes, but who won?
A company from the Amadori group, Avi.Coop Sca, will fly to Paris to participate in a special Carrefour event on 19 and 20 November. Here is the complete ranking, with the reasons.
1) Avi.Coop Sca (Amadori) – San Vittore di Cesena, (Waste reduction and energy valorisation award and overall winner) – More than 2000 employees, produces traditional chicken and turkey products under the Carrefour brand and others under the Amadori brand. An anaerobic digestion and cogeneration plant has been built in their factory: the objective is the production of biogas from the biomass deriving from the manufacturing process, and therefore the production of electricity. What remains? Fertilizer. The results are 95% less biomass waste, fewer waste transport trucks... and less smells around!
2) Lucart SpA – Borgo a Mozzano, Lucca (sustainable logistics award) – It produces paper products with more than 1200 employees. Since last March it has started a large sustainable mobility project on the route from the factory to the port of Livorno: 2500 transits transferred from road to rail, reducing CO2 emissions by 75%, as well as noise pollution.
3) Compagnia Italiana Sali CIS SpA – Porto Viro, Rovigo (atmosphere emissions reduction award) – The company, which processes sea salt, started a new drying plant in November 2013: the system changes the way in which salt is dried and transported. Less energy consumption and less dust emissions.
4) Dial Srl – Pergine Valsugana. Trento (special sustainability award for small businesses)– It is a small company with 40 employees, and processes mushrooms and derivatives. For years it has started a journey to achieve energy self-sufficiency with water and energy recovery, and photovoltaic panels: good evidence of reducing environmental impact, an example for other small businesses.
5) VMC Srl – Gottolengo, Brescia (energy efficiency award) – In the field of stockings and tights it does everything: conception, design, weaving. Since 2014 it has replaced all its ventilation systems with IE3 class ones, replaced the circular textile machines and introduced LED lighting in the weaving departments. It has started using hydrocarbon-free lubricating oils. It will save 25 to 30% of energy.
6) GIAS SpA – Mongrassano Scalo, Cosenza (sustainable agriculture award) – Produces pre-cooked and frozen foods: last year it launched a project for sustainability and valorisation of biodiversity in its agricultural production of raw materials. The project also aims to map and reduce the energy footprint of its contributing members.
7)
Poly Pool SpA – Ponte Selva di Parre – Bergamo (sustainable mobility award) – produces components and systems for electrical systems and charging systems for cars and electric vehicles. Its corporate mobility project aims to introduce electric vehicles into internal processes and also among employees (who are given the use of electric vehicles on weekends).
There is a long way to go to implement a consistent energy reduction in business processes: Carrefour's activity can be a small model of how large companies (in this case the second largest retail group in the world after WalMart) can start a modernization cycle that respects the environment.
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