The Brundtland Report defines sustainable development as development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

Our members recognise their responsibilities and contribute their fair share to preserving our planet for all future generations. They have adopted strategies and take valuable initiatives for the economic, social and environmental dimension of sustainability, working hand in hand with customers, manufacturers and farmers.

A selection of their initiatives:

Environment:

• KESKO updates sustainability strategy, and ties management remuneration to sustainability targets (21/03/2022)
• For even more climate protection: EDEKA-Zentrale is committed to the net-zero goals of the Science Based Targets initiative (22/02/2022)
• KESKO receives international recognition for encouraging suppliers to cut emissions (10/02/2022)
• EDEKA only sells milk that meets higher animal-welfare standard (10/01/2022)
• Greenpeace has recognised SPAR Austria as ‘Supermarket of the Year’ based on the company’s extensive eco-friendly grocery range (05/01/2022)
• SPAR Hungary innovates for a sustainable future (29/12/2021)
• KESKO’S climate work rated world-class: Its next step is to encourage the whole supply chain to cut emissions (07/12/2021)
• REWE plants 32,600 trees near Overath (06/12/2021)
• Toom fair Christmas trees (REWE Group) (02/12/2021) 
• EDEKA gets involved in the "Forum Rezyklat" as one of the first large grocery retailers (25/11/2021)
• SPAR International supports sustainability with SPAR Eco range (24/11/2021)
• Depuis 25 ans, Système U développe une filière unique de gestion des déchets (18/11/2021)
• SPAR Gran Canaria plants 300 trees during annual reforestation day (15/11/2021)
• EDEKA and WWF's project for more sustainable citrus fruit is crowned with success. It is spreading to other regions! (09/11/2021)
• Climate-neutral vegan private label "Food For Future": PENNY plants 16.000 trees near Overath (27/10/2021) 
• K Group achieves energy efficiency targets set for 2025 ahead of schedule with the help of various innovations (07/10/2021)
• ICA Gruppen’s climate work recognised by the UN in Global Climate Action Awards (06/10/2021)
• SPAR reaches milestone of one million meals saved in partnership with Too Good To Go (27/09/2021)
• Ørsted and REWE Group reach agree­ment on green power to be supplied by the off­shore wind farm Borkum Riffgrund 3 (20/09/2021) 
• The Groupement Les Mousquetaires launches its “Innovation Challenge” (09/09/2021)
• Système U stops the systematic printing of receipts (01/09/2021)
• REWE Group to be climate neutral at company level by 2040 (05/07/2021)
• CONAD presents its 2020 Sustainability Report (25/06/2021)
• SPAR partners with Gander to fight food waste (18/03/2021)
• EMD adopts code of conduct for sustainable sourcing (26/02/2021)
• ICA exceeds its climate targets (10/02/2021)
• Kesko ranked again the most sustainable grocery trade company in the world (25/01/2021)

Economic:

• Charte fournisseurs-distributeurs dans le contexte de guerre en Ukraine : Système U renforce le soutien proposé aux TPE-PME (31/03/2022)
• ICA invests in biogas and reduces emissions by 10.000 tonnes (19/05/2021)
• SPAR International supporting local producers (04/03/2021)
• Système U and Façon de Faire join their forces to support and promote French manufacturers (01/07/2021)
• Système U and Villes de France sign a partnership convention to revitalise city centres (08/10/2020)

Social:

• REWE supports again the food bank "Die Tafeln" with 500.000 euro (27/04/2022)
• Projet „Gemüsebeete für Kids“ d'EDEKA : 2.800 carrés de légumes plantés au profit d'environ 1,6 millions d’enfants dans les crèches et les jardins d’enfants (20/04/2022)
• Für einen nachhaltigeren Kakaoanbau: EDEKA-Verbund startet Kakaoprogramm „Cocoa For Future“ (04/04/2022)
• La marque citoyenne d’Intermarché « Les Éleveurs vous disent MERCI ! » fête ses 4 ans et, avec aujourd’hui 19 références et 700 éleveurs ou agriculteurs, poursuit son développement (30/03/2022)
• REWE setzt sich für eine kontinuierliche Verbesserung der Arbeits- und Umweltbedingungen in den Anbauländern von Südfrüchten ein und sichert so die Zukunft seines Nachhaltigkeitsengagements im Bereich Banane und Ananas durch einen Zuschuss in Höhe von 422.000 Euro ab (09/03/2022)
• ACS launches comprehensive guide to help retailers face the restrictions on promoting and displaying high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products in shops (15/02/2022)
• Système U and the "Porcs Bio de France": 10 years of a trust-based partnership (09/02/2022)
• SPAR Italy raises over €330.000 for six worthy causes in Northeast Italy (07/02/2022)
• Intermarché, partenaire de la Fédération Française de Football, des Équipes de France et de la Coupe de France jusqu’en 2028, devient pour la première fois partenaire du programme le « Petit Poucet », qui met à l’honneur les plus petits clubs amateurs du tournoi (15/12/2021)
• Markant Gruppe spendet 8 Tonnen Obst und Gemüse an die Lebenshilfe Offenburg-Oberkirch e.V. und die Kaufmännischen Schulen Offenburg (30/11/2021)
• REWE joins Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Human Rights Coalition (22/11/2021)
• SPAR Hungary announces support for 100 small-scale producers, stimulating employment and investing €4,75 million to the ‘Regional Treasures’ partnership programme (18/10/2021)
• The beans for the REWE Bio Caffè Crema Pads are grown exclusively by women from the Fairtrade-certified cooperative "Valle de Ubiriki" in the "Café Mujer" project (18/10/2021)
• Système U develops a webportal dedicated to very small businesses and SMEs (06/10/2021)
• Let's support each other! EDEKA retailers support again the "Day of the Neighbours" (25/05/2021)
• Système U offers more than 230.000 € of food and hygiene products to young people (02/04/2021)
• EMD adopts code of conduct for sustainable sourcing (26/02/2021)