Sustainable Development Goals
We want to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Eight of them are particularly relevant to us. An excerpt of our measures and objectives:
SDG 7:
Affordable and Clean Energy*
SDG 7:
Affordable and Clean Energy*
- We have been using certified green electricity in our stores, DIY stores, warehouses and travel offices in Germany and Austria since 2008. We are the first retailer in Germany to conclude a long-term Power Purchase Agreement for an offshore wind farm. From 2026, 1,500 stores in Germany and Austria will be supplied with electricity from the Borkum Riffgrund 3 wind farm.
- We are increasing our energy efficiency based on our certified energy management systems in all units and by optimising logistics, among other things.
- Since the end of 2024, customers have found approximately 2,000 fast-charging stations in the parking lots of new REWE and PENNY stores in Germany and 490 charging stations at 154 BILLA, BIPA and PENNY locations in Austria.
*The scope includes REWE and PENNY in Germany, deviations are explicitly stated.
SDG 5:
Gender Equality*
SDG 5:
Gender Equality*
- In our supply chains for private label products, we have formulated specific measures, objectives and requirements in our guideline on women in the supply chain to protect women and girls at REWE, PENNY and toom Baumarkt DIY stores in Germany and at BILLA, BIPA and ADEG in Austria.
- For our raw materials, we rely on certifications of standards that set requirements for the equal treatment and protection of women.
- We support women in projects to increase their income and train the employees of our strategic production sites on topics such as wages and working hours.
- Within our company, we promote women and ensure equal pay for work of equal value, largely through collective labour agreements.
*The scope includes REWE and PENNY in Germany, deviations are explicitly stated.
SDG 2:
Zero Hunger*
SDG 2:
Zero Hunger*
- For food that can no longer be sold, but can be consumed without hesitation, we work together with food banks and the foodsharing organisation. We are committed to reducing food waste by 30 per cent by 2025 and by 50 per cent by 2030. Almost all locations of BILLA, BILLA PLUS, PENNY, BIPA and ADEG in Austria support surrounding social supermarkets (affordable products for low-income earners) and charitable partners with food and everyday goods.
*The scope includes REWE and PENNY in Germany, deviations are explicitly stated.
SDG 15:
Life on Land*
SDG 15:
Life on Land*
- For wood and paper, we rely on the seals of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC™) or the Blauer Engel (Blue Angel) eco-label.
- We will make our supply chains deforestation- and conversion-free by the end of 2025.1
- At the beginning of 2025, we switched our entire range of soils at REWE and PENNY in Germany, as well as toom Baumarkt DIY store, to peat-free alternatives. REWE and PENNY have already achieved this objective ahead of schedule in 2024.
- We continually aim to convert our relevant, regional open-air fruit and vegetable products in Germany to biodiversity-promoting cultivation.2
- The Biodiversity Foundation “Blühendes Österreich” (Austria in Bloom) – which was awarded the prestigious European biodiversity prize Natura Award 2000 in 2022 – has been able to preserve or improve threatened ecosystems and biotopes on over 13 million square meters since it began its activities in 2015, with a further ten million square meters to be added by 2030.
*The scope includes REWE and PENNY in Germany, deviations are explicitly stated.
1For our primary high-risk raw materials such as cocoa, coffee, palm oil and soy in animal feed with cut-off date 01/01/2020. Conversion relates to all valuable ecosystems.
2This statement has been changed to deviate from the objective formulation in the previous year’s report. This change is due to insufficient data, partially incomplete methodology and thus difficulty in measuring.
SDG 14:
Life below Water*
SDG 14:
Life below Water*
- We rely on standards such as Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, Cotton made in Africa® and Naturland. These standards require producers to use water resources sustainably in their processes.
- We are reducing water pollution caused by chemicals through a detox programme for clothing, shoes, and home textiles from our private label products.
- In our guideline on fish and seafood, we set requirements for our business partners in the supply chain in terms of sustainable fishing. In addition, we aim to source 100 per cent of our private label fish products1 (MSC, GLOBALG.AP, ASC, organic certification).
- Since 2020, we have set ourselves the goal of eliminating harmful microplastics and defined synthetic and semi-synthetic polymers in dissolved/gel-like/liquid form from the formulations of our private label cosmetic products. Both objectives were achieved again in 2024 as in 2022 and 2023.
*The scope includes REWE and PENNY in Germany, deviations are explicitly stated.
1In the frozen, convenience, fresh and tinned food sectors.
SDG 13:
Climate Action*
SDG 13:
Climate Action*
- By joining the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in March 2024, we as the REWE Group have committed to science-based climate targets based on the 1.5-degree path of the Paris Agreement. As a Group, we want to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The targets of REWE and PENNY in Germany were validated by the SBTi in December 2024.
- In 2024, we asked over 600 suppliers, who are responsible for about 90 per cent of our product-related emissions from private label products, to set climate targets in accordance with SBTi. Of these, more than 450 suppliers, who are responsible for 87 per cent of our product-related emissions from our private label products, have signed a climate target agreement to set climate targets according to SBTi by the end of 2024.
- Since 2022, REWE in Germany has been supporting the NABU Climate Fund with at least five million euros annually. By the end of 2024, almost 4,000 hectares of peatland in six European countries had been secured for rewetting. Europe's largest moorland renaturalisation project for former agricultural land is currently underway in the Ahlen-Falkenberger Moor in the Cuxhaven district.
- In 2024, we presented the “Förderprogramm Klimaschutz“ (Climate Protection Funding Programme) under the umbrella of the Competence Center for Agriculture. We offer our private label suppliers several million euros in co-financing for projects to reduce GHG emissions in the supply chain.
- In 2024, the DERTOUR Group acquired Sustainable Aviation Fuel, which can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 80 per cent compared to conventional kerosene, from the Lufthansa Group again as part of a strategic partnership.
*The scope includes REWE and PENNY in Germany, deviations are explicitly stated.
SDG 8:
Decent Work and Economic Growth*
SDG 8:
Decent Work and Economic Growth*
- In our group-wide Declaration of Principles, we commit to strengthening human rights and environmental rights and to preventing, minimising and remedying their violation.
- With regard to the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (LkSG), we have implemented a group-wide grievance procedure (see Supply Chain), which all potentially affected groups of people can use to report violations of human rights and environmental concerns at any time.
- By 2030, all strategic suppliers and employees of production sites of REWE, PENNY and toom Baumarkt DIY stores’ private label products in Germany are to participate in training programmes to specifically reduce negative impacts along the supply chain.
*The scope includes REWE and PENNY in Germany, deviations are explicitly stated.
SDG 12:
Responsible Consumption and Production*
SDG 12:
Responsible Consumption and Production*
- We promote organic, vegan and regional private label products and are thus constantly expanding our more sustainable product range.
- We communicate continuously on the topic of sustainability, for example, on our new platform nachhaltigkeit.rewe.de since 2024. There, customers will find comprehensive information, tips for a more sustainable everyday life and insights into REWE's various sustainability projects. Here you can also subscribe to our new sustainability newsletter with information and offers on the topic.
- We have achieved our goal of using 20 per cent less plastic in our private label packaging by 2025 ahead of schedule. After receiving the Blauer Engel (Blue Angel) 2023 award, our reusable alternative “Einfach Mehrweg” (simply reusable), developed by REWE together with SYKELL, was honoured with the “ECR Sustainability Award”. At the end of 2024, the concept was awarded the “German Sustainability Award Products 2025”.
- We use modern forecasting systems and automated ordering processes to reduce food waste, and also work together with the food bank and the foodsharing organisation (see also SDG 2).
- With the sector project “Klimabewusst reisen” (climate-conscious travel), the DERTOUR Group created a standard for calculating the carbon footprint of a trip, which we now communicate transparently in our offers. In addition, with the industry project “Klimafreundlichere Produktgestaltung” (more climate-friendly product design), we have developed key performance indicators (KPIs) that will be incorporated into the product design of our tours in the future and will consider their climate impact as a criterion.
*The scope includes REWE and PENNY in Germany, deviations are explicitly stated.