Materials

The activities relating to material conservation come under the Resource Conservation area of action, which is one of the three areas of action in the Energy, Climate and Environment pillar of the company-wide Sustainability Strategy, along with Energy Efficiency and Climate-Relevant Emissions. The topic of Resource Conservation is also strategically embedded in the Green Products pillar, for example through the key topic of Circular Economy in the Environment area of action (see Management Approach Green Products).

Effect

The REWE Group uses various materials in its day-to-day work, for example for selling its goods, for transportation or in marketing. Natural raw materials are required to produce these materials. The company is aware that its activities, services and products have an effect on resource consumption – both in its business processes and, in particular, in the upstream stages of the value chain. Extraction and processing of non-renewable raw materials are often energy-intensive and can be associated with impacts on nature and production of emissions. Dwindling resources can also have economic and social consequences in relation to raw materials markets, distribution of raw materials and food security. The REWE Group sees efficient use of materials as a key element of sustainable business practices. As a trading company, it uses its influence to make a positive contribution to this topic. This applies not only to the essential stages of the value chain with the greatest share in resource and material consumption, but also to its own locations.

Principles

In its Guideline on Sustainable Business Practices, the REWE Group commits itself to efficient use of natural resources, e.g., soil, air and water, as well as raw materials and fuels.

Responsibility and Resources

The topic of Materials is the responsibility of the working group Energy, Climate and Environment. The working group is headed by Telerik Schischmanow (Member of the Executive Board – Finance). Dedicated units work on and expedite operational implementation in the regions and strategic business units.

Implementation

The REWE Group optimises relevant resource consumption in its business processes by implementing measures relating to products or raw materials. In relation to materials, the company firstly implements measures in its own business area, for example by using more environmentally friendly paper and smaller quantities of paper (see section Discontinuation of Paper Leaflets), in waste management (see Waste) and in the design of stores with recyclable or organic building materials (see Green Building). Secondly, the company is committed to optimisation, especially in the upstream and downstream stages of the value chain because they account for the largest share of consumption. This includes measures in the areas of Packaging and Circular Economy, for example with regard to reusable alternatives, reducing use of materials, as well as use of recycling materials, and optimisation of material cycles. Furthermore, aspects of resource conservation are considered in the PRO PLANET process (see also PRO PLANET).

In the reporting year, REWE was the first food retailer in Germany to decide to phase out printed leaflets. Printing will be phased out until July 2023 and then stopped altogether; product advertising through new and familiar media will be expanded. This will enable the sales line to save 73,000 tonnes of paper as a resource per year (for more information see section Paper Consumption). By doing so, REWE is actively helping to prevent damage or destruction of natural ecosystems and CO₂ reduction as a result of industrial forestry and large-scale logging, as well as the use of environmentally harmful chemicals in paper production.

Involvement of Stakeholders

Stakeholders assessed the topic of Resource Conservation as relevant for the company in the Materiality Analysis. They are informed annually about the effectiveness of measures taken via the Sustainability Report and in various dialogue formats (see Stakeholder Dialogue). This exchange allows stakeholders to provide important input on the issue.

Customers, suppliers, and partners as well as other stakeholders can submit their complaints or comments on this topic. For this purpose, the REWE Group has established reporting and grievance mechanisms. For more information, please refer to the Compliance section.

The REWE Group implements measures and projects in its own business processes to close material cycles and conserve resources. They are presented below for the reporting period and sorted by topic.

Processes

Materials

For a trade and tourism company, paper is an essential resource that plays a major role especially in product advertising. The total paper consumption of the REWE Group in Germany and Austria, including retailers, decreased from around 175,000 tonnes in 2021 to about 145,000 tonnes in 2022, the overwhelming share of which was due to production of leaflets (see above). The decrease is mainly due to the reduction of leaflets at REWE in Germany by 19,000 tonnes and at the REWE Group in Austria by 5,500 tonnes.

This trend is also reflected in specific paper consumption, which fell to 13.66 kilograms per square metre of sales area in 2022 (2021: 17.3).

Absolute paper consumption (t)

Scope: The REWE Group in Germany and Austria, including retailers.

Specific paper consumption (kg/m²)

Scope: The REWE Group in Germany and Austria, including retailers.

To make the consumption of paper, which has been defined as an essential resource, more environmentally friendly in the long run, the REWE Group is committed to promoting the use of recycled paper, which is used especially in administration and for print media. Leaflets will not be used after July 2023 (see section Discontinuation of Paper Leaflets). Furthermore, the company is also pursuing the objective of only using certified paper in the paper private label packaging of REWE and PENNY in Germany (for more information see Packaging).